Twitter unveils improved tools for reporting harassment

Twitter

twitterMicro blogging platform Twitter announced yesterday improvements to simplify the way users report abuse and harassment on the social media platform.

The company said it will now require less information from users flagging inappropriate content and that it will be easier to submit tweets and accounts for review, even when wrongful behavior is simply observed and not received directly.

“We are nowhere near being done making changes in this area, in the coming months, you can expect to see additional user controls, further improvements to reporting and new enforcement procedures for abusive accounts.” Shreyas Doshi, director of product management and user safety said.

Users also will be able to view all the accounts they have blocked in a new blocked accounts page accessible from the settings menu on Twitter.

The changes, which will be rolled out to all users in the next few weeks, include modifications designed to speed up Twitter’s response by better streamlining and prioritizing reports of abusive content, technology news website The Verge reported.

A way to block multiple accounts at once also appears to be in the work.

Twitter has faced criticism in the past over a response to harassment and abuse deemed too lax by many of its users.

A survey by online advocacy groups done earlier this year found that nearly half of Americans under the age of 35 have been bullied, harassed or threatened online. Twenty-four percent of the people surveyed said the harassment happened on Twitter.

Source: Reuters