Twitter Safety Mode: New Anti-Abuse Feature Tested

Twitter Introduces "Safety Mode" to Combat Harassment

A new trial by Twitter aims to address the persistent issue of online harassment experienced by its users.

This innovative test introduces a feature known as Safety Mode, designed to act as a temporary shield against abusive content. Activated through the settings menu, this mode employs an algorithmic process to filter potentially harmful interactions for a duration of seven days.

How Safety Mode Functions

According to Jarrod Doherty, Twitter’s Product Lead, the primary objective is to enhance protection for users who are targeted by harmful remarks, reducing both their frequency and visibility.

Initially, Safety Mode will not be available to all users. Instead, it will be rolled out to a limited group of approximately 1,000 individuals who utilize the platform in English.

Algorithmic Screening Process

Twitter’s algorithm evaluates several factors when identifying potentially abusive tweets. These include:

• The presence of hateful language
• Repetitive or unwanted mentions
• The nature of the relationship between accounts

The system is designed to avoid blocking accounts that a user follows or frequently interacts with.

Once activated within the privacy and safety settings, Safety Mode remains active for seven days and can be re-enabled upon expiration.

Collaboration with Experts

The development of this feature involved consultation with experts in mental health, online safety, and human rights. These partners assisted in identifying potential participants for the initial test group.

Twitter intends to prioritize female journalists and members of marginalized communities during this testing phase. The company will proactively contact accounts that are frequently subjected to abusive behavior.

Previous Anti-Abuse Initiatives

Earlier this year, Twitter announced plans to develop additional anti-abuse tools. These included options for users to remove themselves from tagged conversations and to block serial harassers from mentioning them.

The company also alluded to a feature similar to Safety Mode, offering a means to de-escalate abusive situations.

Addressing User Exodus

Unfortunately, many users have been driven away from Twitter due to severe harassment. This loss of users is detrimental to the platform, and Twitter is actively seeking solutions to address this problem.

While progress has been slow, the company acknowledges the issue and is working towards implementing effective measures.