Twitter is working on a new feature that will make its users less susceptible to abuse, outrage mobs, and bullies by designing a way for users to “unmention” themselves in other people’s tweets.
This news comes from Dominic Camozzi, a privacy engineer at Twitter, who showed off several early-stage mockups of the much-needed feature.
Sometimes you want to talk, and sometimes you just … don't.
Check out these early concepts that could help control unwanted attention on Twitter.
Feedback, especially at this beginning stage, is invited (and wanted)! ???? pic.twitter.com/6SpzqiwFlL
— Dominic Camozzi (@_dcrc_) June 14, 2021
The feature would also offer notifications for @mentions by someone you don’t follow—and give you the ability to stop them from @mentioning you again.
Notifications
Going further, if someone you don’t follow @ mentions you, you’ll get a special notification. If you unmention yourself from there, the Tweet author will not be able to mention you again. pic.twitter.com/RTFBEnkPFf
— Dominic Camozzi (@_dcrc_) June 14, 2021
Plus, you can set the duration of up to seven days to stop certain accounts from @mentioning you.
Settings
You can also restrict certain accounts from mentioning you.
Need some peace and quiet? Keep EVERYONE from mentioning you for 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. pic.twitter.com/d50JIcsPok
— Dominic Camozzi (@_dcrc_) June 14, 2021
And you’ll get the ability to control mass mentions, too.
Getting a little TOO much attention? I want to make it easier to address that in 3 ways.
1️⃣ Get notified when you’re getting a lot of mentions
2️⃣ Review those Tweets
3️⃣ Change settings to stop the situation from escalating further pic.twitter.com/CL43INsMky— Dominic Camozzi (@_dcrc_) June 14, 2021
From an anti-bullying, anti-outrage mob stance, these features are a godsend. Sometimes, Twitter is like stepping into a war zone when all you showed up for was a stroll through the park. There’s no word on when these features will come to fruition, but when they do, they will help make Twitter a much more fun, safe, and relaxing place to hang out.