Twitter is testing a new security feature called Safety Mode. This feature can be used by users to block accounts that send harassment and hate speech automatically.
Once this feature is activated by a user, the Twitter system will automatically block the account for seven days if it is caught posting hateful tweets or sending repeated replies.
"When this feature is enabled in Settings, our system will assess the possibility of negative engagement by considering the content of the Tweet and the relationship between the Tweet's author and the replying account," said Twitter Senior Product Manager Jarrod Doherty in a Twitter blog, as quoted by The Verge, Friday (3/3). /9/2021).
"Our technology will take into account existing relationships, so accounts that you follow or interact with often won't be automatically blocked," he continued.
Currently the Safety Mode feature is still being tested on a limited basis involving a 'feedback group' on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com. This trial prioritizes the accounts of women journalists and members of marginalized groups, but will expand in the next few months.
Accounts that have been blocked automatically will not be able to follow user accounts that block, view tweets, or send direct messages for one week. But if the Twitter system makes a mistake and blocks an account that is not problematic, users can unblock it at any time via settings.
"We will also regularly monitor the accuracy of our safety mode systems to improve our detection capabilities," explains Jarrod.
Twitter first showcased Safety Mode in February, but at the time they didn't reveal when the feature would roll out. This feature will complement other Twitter security features such as hiding replies, limiting the accounts that can reply to tweets, and issuing warnings if users plan to send potentially harassing tweets.
Despite introducing a range of security features, harassment and hate speech are still a big problem for Twitter. Like the case of racist comments received by three black players of the England national team after losing in the Euro 2020 final.
