Once of Twitter's most under appreciated features is the ability to block a user. You can do it for absolutely any reason. Out of hate, annoyance, mischievousness or pure boredom. Many people employ the feature, including myself for the first time recently, and including our president for what seems like his whole life. But to the surprise of almost everyone, Chelsea Clinton tweeted an image of her block list this week. It was empty.
As a kid, I paid attention to what Rush Limbaugh said (he called me a dog when I was 12) & read tabloid headlines in line at the grocery store (apparently I threw myself off a roof? also at 12). I’ve always preferred knowing what’s being said, even with my alien sibling (at 13) pic.twitter.com/dcKBOGqa34
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) April 27, 2018
As a public figure with a mother who's perhaps one of the more polarizing people on the planet (I feel comfortable making that assertion) it’s absolutely wild she has no one blocked. She undoubtedly receives daily harassment if not actual threats from trolls and prominent people alike. Just see what she wrote Rush Limbuagh called her at 12. Chrissy Teigen responded to Clinton’s tweet in complete shock. How could she be blocking no one? Teigen makes frequent use of the feature and is quite vocal about doing so.
Wait YOU HAVE NO ONE BLOCKED??? HOW ON EARTH? I have over....10,000 I’d say. Maybe 50,000. Lol
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 27, 2018
So who else employs the block feature? And why? I did some advanced digging AKA used the “Advanced Search” on Twitter on some of the platform's more popular users. Of those who publicly discuss blocking, here’s what they’ve had to say about it. Some of this is serious, some of it not at all.
My block list consists of thousands. Tens of thousands. I wish you had the option to write a quick sentence about why you blocked them. I’d have the pettiest list.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 21, 2018
I now block anyone for the tiniest negative comment about my tweets. I am like God. All powerful and need to be praised constantly or else.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) October 31, 2012
Can you block a whole country on twitter?
— Megan Amram (@meganamram) November 9, 2016
Y'all wouldn't believe how many people I had to block after tweeting about #Roots once!
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) May 31, 2016
I love the block feature so much.
— roxane gay (@rgay) August 9, 2015
Is there a way 2 follow some1 but block their retweets? Some interesting ppl have a tendency 2 RT every kiss ass response they get ANNOYING!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 29, 2011
I JUST BLOCKED TWO PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA I FEEL SO FREE AND ALIVE IM FLYING