After doubling up its efforts near last year’s end, Twitter is now entering the initial testing phase of its new ‘unmention’ option, which will enable users to remove themselves from conversations they no longer feel comfortable being involved in. This is the closest we get to a ‘Panic Button’ on Twitter.

Reverse-Tagging

Based on what we know so far when you unmention yourself, a chat will see that:

  • Your username is untagged from the original tweet and replies.

  • Users won’t be able to mention you again within the same reply chain.

  • You’ll no longer be notified about updates to the exchange.

Your username will remain, albeit in text form and within the initial Tweets that you were involved in, but you will no longer be an active part of any exchange than happens after the unmention.

In most instances, it could be a very handy option to avoid the dreaded Twitter pile-on based on a single misguided Tweet. It could also be used to just mute discussions that might be causing you distress. Essentially, it’s much like the ‘Remove tag from photo’ option, but for chats, giving users the capacity to distance themselves from any direct association with selected Tweet discussions. Helping further manage their in-app experience.

Twitter revealed the option in June of last year as part of an overview of upcoming Tweet controls. This included tools to avoid unwanted @mentions, stopping anyone from mentioning for a day at a time. Again, this could help users avoid attacks and mass criticism within the app, shielding them from the psychological stress associated with such. Within this frame, ‘Unmentioning’ yourself from a discussion is simply another means to protect yourself while engaging via Tweets. This, on top of other control options, gave you a rather sizable kit to keep yourself shielded from harmful behavior on Twitter.

Often referred to as a ‘Cesspit of Hate’, among other colorful descriptors, is one of the major reasons why people are hesitant to join Twitter discussions because they would then stand the risk of being targeted and focused on by Twitter’s ‘Eye of Sauron’ – a name unceremoniously attached to an unworthy 15-minute period of what is essentially a glorified tantrum by other users.

The Wrap

Twitter has some crazy goals to meet, which it’ll need to attract more users. If all that people see when first logging on is others being lambasted and ‘trampled’, that lessens the likelihood of them fully joining in.

Considering that some 80% of all Tweets come from only 10% of active users, you can sort of predict how this trend plays out. While Twitter does have a lot of people tuning in, significantly fewer were actually willing to engage due to fear of criticism because of a single misstep. It’s not really a great image for Twitter, but hopefully, this new option would help paint it in a better light.

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Sources 

https://bit.ly/3Knc0GF