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Last year, the company discreetly eliminated that regulation.
X Implements New Rule to Reduce Abuse and Harassment on its Platform
X, the social networking service formerly known as Twitter, has recently updated its abuse and harassment policy to include a new section addressing the intentional misuse of pronouns and names. The company’s decision to introduce this rule comes after it quietly removed its previous policy against deadnaming and misgendering transgender individuals in April 2023. This move was criticized by GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, who described X as an unsafe platform for both users and advertisers. It’s worth noting that X’s owner, Elon Musk, has a history of endorsing and sharing anti-trans content.
Under the new policy, X will take action against posts that violate the rule only if the target reports the incident. This places the responsibility on the target, which GLAAD’s senior director of social media safety, Jenni Olson, advises against. However, Olson acknowledges that having clear policies prohibiting deadnaming and misgendering is better than having vague rules that do not explicitly address such behavior.
To enforce the new rule, X will reduce the visibility of posts by removing them from search results, home timelines, trends, and notifications. These posts will also be downranked in the replies section and can only be discovered through the authors’ profiles. Additionally, X will ensure that these posts are not displayed on its website or app alongside advertisements, thus avoiding potential ad revenue losses like those experienced last year when advertisers pulled their campaigns due to ads being shown next to antisemitic content.
By implementing these measures, X aims to create a safer environment for its users and prevent further instances of abuse and harassment. The company’s decision to prioritize the well-being of its users is a step in the right direction, although some critics argue that relying on self-reporting may place undue burden on the targets of abuse. Nonetheless, having explicit policies against deadnaming and misgendering is a positive development in combating online harassment and discrimination.