Twitter to Release ‘Muted Words’ Feature

Twitter seems to have learned quite a few lessons from its failed sale. It looks like the very features of the app that made potential acquirers run the other way are the same ones that Twitter is now attempting to fix. Last week, Twitter cut jobs and its video-sharing app Vine, perhaps in response to concerns over the company’s ridiculous operation costs. This week, Twitter hinted at plans to address the rampant abuse on the platform that scared buyers away with its “Muted Words” feature.

“Muted Words” is essentially a customizable keyword filter allows users to create a list of “muted words” that they would like to ban from their timelines. That means users can avoid the usual barrage of offensive comments (or spoilers!) on Twitter by activating the feature in the Notifications menu and then adding the appropriate words or phrases they’d like to exclude into their tweet filter. “Muted Words” was prematurely released on Sunday to iOS users, but it has since been disabled. However, insiders have confirmed that the feature will definitely be released officially in the near future.

The feature is very similar to one that was released by Instagram this past September — which isn’t surprising, considering the social media copycat frenzy we’re in the midst of. While the ability to moderate which tweets you see won’t solve internet hate, it should definitely improve user experience, which is exactly what Twitter needs right now.

Image credit: Amber Rae