Twitter steps up its fight against doxxing with new feature that makes it easier to report trolls who try to leak other users’ personal information
- Twitter is rolling out new safety features to help users report abusive accounts
- Now, when users report a tweet, they can say what personal info is being shared
- It could help Twitter prevent leaks of phone numbers, addresses and other data
Twitter is giving users more tools to fight trolls.
The social media giant has launched a new feature that lets users give more detailed information when reporting tweets that share personal information.
It could help Twitter respond more quickly to tweets that share private data, like phone numbers, addresses, emails or financial information.
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Twitter is giving users more tools to fight trolls. The firm has launched a new feature that lets users give more detailed information when reporting tweets that share personal information
‘We want to move faster in reviewing reported Tweets that share personal information,’ the company’s Safety unit wrote in a tweet.
‘Starting today, you’ll be able to tell us more about the Tweet you are reporting.’
Now, when users report an offensive or abusive tweet, Twitter will prompt them to describe ‘what is going on’ in the post.
Users can report it for being suspicious or spam, as well as abusive or harmful.
After selecting the abusive or harmful option, Twitter will show a range of descriptors, including that it ‘includes private information.’
Selecting the private information option will then show a list of specifications, including contact information, home address or physical location, financial account information and a government-issued ID or ID number.
Selecting the private information option will then show a list of specifications, including contact information, home address or physical location, financial account information and a government-issued ID or ID number.
The feature is available today on both Twitter’s website and mobile app.
It will likely help Twitter prioritize which user reports are addressed first and escalate those that are most urgent.
The move comes as Twitter has faced recent backlash over how it addresses hateful and abusive content on the site.
Many have criticized the firm for being too slow to respond to user reports and for giving abusive accounts too many chances.
But it has been rolling out more safety tools in recent months, including last October, when it gave users more options for designating spam tweets, as part of its efforts to crack down on bots.
Additionally, last June, Twitter acquired online safety firm Smyte to bolster its anti-abuse efforts.
