Twitter is one of the few social media channels where users can find comfort in anonymity. Unfortunately that can also lead to some feeling comfortable in harassing and abusing others. A potential resolution is on the horizon with the ability to limit who can reply to your Twitter posts.
Testing, testing…
A new way to have a convo with exactly who you want. We’re starting with a small % globally, so keep your
out to see it in action. pic.twitter.com/pV53mvjAVT
— Twitter (@Twitter) May 20, 2020
In the early stages of the rollout only a select few users have visibility on the feature. It presents as a globe icon that then expands, offering you the choice of who to allow to respond: Everyone, People You Follow or Only People You Mention.
Users not part of your selected groups will simply not have the option to reply, it will be greyed out for them. The option to view, like and retweet will still be available to all readers though.
It’s a mixed bag, whether you like it or not. The open nature of communication on Twitter does lend itself to continual replies and potential for abuse. Perhaps this new feature may help, or perhaps users will find a way around it.
