X, a popular social media platform, has rolled out a contentious update to its block feature, permitting blocked users to view public posts of those who have blocked them. This change has sparked widespread outrage among users, who argue that it compromises their online safety and privacy.

Despite the backlash, X has defended its decision, citing the need for transparency and claiming that the block feature can be used to share and hide harmful or private information about someone. However, critics point out that users can already make their accounts private and share information, rendering this argument moot.

The update has also drawn criticism from tech advocates, including software engineer and diversity advocate Tracy Chou, who has built an app to automate blocking. Chou argues that making it easy for harassers to access users' public posts is not a positive development, and that friction matters in preventing online harassment.

X's move goes against the conventional implementation of block features on social media platforms, and its decision to push ahead with the update despite user protests has raised concerns about the company's commitment to online safety and user privacy.