Twitter adds new 'mute' options to help fight abuse

Social media platforms are doing all they can to keep users safe from online abuse and trolling. In a latest effort in the direction, Twitter has added more 'mute' options to give users better control over their notifications.

The option to mute on Twitter that has been there since 2015 has got some advanced filters letting you mute anyone with a new account and people who do not follow you.

Now you have even more control over your notifications. Mute accounts that don't follow you, new accounts, and more. https://t.co/UapP6DtTtYpic.twitter.com/RcBQGx219k

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) July 10, 2017

The new tool can be configured in the Notifications -> Settings -> Advanced Filters section of Twitter. This is in addition to Twitter’s March rollout of ways to silence people who haven’t added a profile picture or verified their email address or phone number.

Last year, Twitter launched its quality filter tool as well as an option to mute notifications and messages from people you don't follow. Later, it began muting conversation reply notifications from people you've blocked or muted.

“Making Twitter a safer place is our primary focus," Ed Ho, Twitter's vice president of engineering, wrote in a March blog post. "We stand for freedom of expression and people being able to see all sides of any topic. That’s put in jeopardy when abuse and harassment stifle and silence those voices. We won’t tolerate it and we’re launching new efforts to stop it.”