Block Party, a new startup created by Tracy Chou with the intention of fostering a more secure environment on social media, is now available. Initially designed for Twitter, Block Party enables users to filter unwanted content, placing it within a designated area called the Lockout Folder. This folder allows for later review of the filtered material, should the user choose.

Chou explained, “We believe it’s vital to remain aware of the presence of these individuals.”

Ignoring their activity entirely could result in missing potentially valuable information or genuine opportunities for connection.

“A significant amount of worthwhile content could be overlooked,” she stated. “There’s a fundamental reason why we utilize public platforms such as Twitter.”

However, she also noted the potential need for periodic checks to ensure no one is posing a threat to personal safety.

A key component of the Block Party system is the role of Helpers. Users can grant trusted individuals access to their Lockout Folder, allowing them to identify potentially useful information or assist in blocking abusive accounts.

“Having another person to help process and identify concerning activity can be incredibly beneficial,” she said. “Currently, most platforms place the entire responsibility for managing abuse on the individual experiencing it, and we aim to alleviate that burden.”

The Lockout Folder also functions as a record-keeping resource, providing documentation of harassment that can be used when submitting reports to companies, legal professionals, or other relevant parties.

Block Party originated from Chou’s experiences working within platform companies like Facebook and Quora, alongside her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the technology sector. While at Quora, she developed the block feature shortly after experiencing harassment on the platform, as she shared.

“Having insight from both an internal product and engineering perspective, and also as a DEI advocate, has shown me how a lack of diverse representation on teams can negatively influence product development,” Chou said.

Currently, Block Party is exclusively available to Twitter users, but the intention is to expand support to other platforms and assist users in managing harassment across multiple sites. Block Party is presently offered without charge, but plans include the introduction of subscription options, while maintaining a perpetually available free version.

To this point, Block Party has secured funding totaling just under $1.5 million. The pre-seed funding round was spearheaded by Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures, with additional investment from Alexia Bonatsos, Ellen Pao, Alex Stamos, and others.