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In this photo illustration, Elon Musk's photo is displayed on a phone screen in front of a computer screen with Twitter's new logo in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 24, 2023. (Photo by Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO – One decision that's angering some users is that accounts that have blocked you on X, formerly Twitter, can now view your posts despite being blocked.

This change applies to accounts set to public, X Engineering said in a post. The update was released on Saturday.

Previously, X Engineering said the blocking feature was used by users to “share and hide harmful or private information about the people they blocked.” To allow for “greater transparency,” the change will allow those who may be vilified to see potentially harmful tweets.

However, critics have slammed the update, with one user calling it a “glorified mute button.”

Muting on X does not block a user, but it does prevent them from appearing in your feed. Muted users can still reply, retweet, or follow your profile. Muted users may not realize they are muted, but blocked users will be notified when they try to view the profile of the person who blocked them.

X Engineering first made the announcement on October 16, which was met with resistance.

Some criticized the change, saying it would harm content creators as accounts reproduce their content without permission. Others expressed fears that stalkers could gain access to their accounts.

Others questioned the rationale for the change, wondering if there was any “point” in suspending accounts if they could ultimately continue to see posts.

Others have questioned whether changes violate Apple and Google's terms of service since there is no blocking option available.

KTVU has reached out to Apple and Google and is awaiting comment on the changes.

However, there are supporters behind the change.

Political social media influencer Andy Ngo said when the change was first announced that the change would increase transparency and expose illegal and criminal content.

People whose accounts are protected cannot view their posts on profiles that have blocked them.

For public accounts, blocked users will still be unable to interact with your posts, including liking, replying, or retweeting. They won't be able to follow you, send direct messages, tag you in photos, or add your account to their lists.

They also won't appear in your timeline, said X Engineering.

However, users may still see tweets or notifications from blocked users when other unblocked accounts mention those blocked accounts or in tweets that mention you with an account that you have blocked.