Twitter And Online Abuse Update: Platform Testing Feature That Marks Some Accounts As 'Sensitive'

Twitter has announced various measures to curb online abuse and content this year and in 2016. Now, the platform is quietly testing a system that flags “sensitive” accounts, Mashable found.

Some accounts are being flagged as containing “potentially sensitive images or language,” with a “caution” warning covering the entire web page. Users are then required to agree to view the account, a screenshot taken by Mashable shows.

Read: Twitter Trolls Update: Three Ways Platform Will Curb Abusive Accounts, Including Expanded Mute Button

Other Twitter users shared a screenshot of Twitter’s move:

However, those who have their accounts flagged as sensitive had no clue their Twitter accounts are being affected. The account warning sign can be seen by some users but isn't viewable to others, probably because it’s just a test.

The feature Twitter is testing can be a way to change the behavior of Twitter users when it comes to sensitive content, or could be a way to seal off those accounts from other Twitter users by going through the caution/agreement sign first. It’s also uncertain whether Twitter will flag accounts based on reports from users or using another procedure.

Read: How To Free Up Storage On Your iPhone? Twitter iOS Update Clears Up Memory Space

Twitter’s Fight Against Online Abuse

Twitter’s move comes after a series of anti-abuse approaches. Last week, Twitter rolled out new methods to curb online abuse, including new filtering options for your notifications and the ability to mute from your home timeline and letting you decide how long you want to mute certain content.

Twitter also announced it will update you on reports you have made concerning abusive accounts through your notifications tab. The platform said it would identify accounts that are tweeting abusive content, even if it hasn’t been reported yet. Twitter will also limit what users can do for a specific timeframe, such as allowing only their followers to see their tweets.

Twitter’s changes introduced last week come after the company announced other ways it would halt online abuse last year and earlier this year, including stopping the creation of new abusive accounts by banned users, strengthening safer search results and hiding “potentially abusive or low-quality Tweets.”