173 upvotes, 9 direct replies (showing 9)
View submission: Safety update on Reddit’s follow feature
I don't think opting out of notifications really helps. If anything, it just hides when new people follow you.
Blindfolds aren't really safety features.
Edit: As some of you make some interesting points, I think I understand a little more about why this is considered a valid method to address the issue. Basically our choices are to inhibit a right to say whatever vs having control over what you read.
I think also that a Reddit version of a restraining order is much more technically challenging to implement, and might be completely impossible since what we're talking about here is the constant creation of troll accounts.
Comment by [deleted] at 14/07/2021 at 20:13 UTC
63 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by rocksalamander at 14/07/2021 at 17:45 UTC
26 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Well said. I'd rather know when somebody new follows me so that I can go in and block them
Comment by Uristqwerty at 14/07/2021 at 23:45 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Since Following does about as much as a web browser bookmark to anyone who never makes profile posts, opting out of notifications really does stop most of the problem.
Comment by CorpCounsel at 14/07/2021 at 20:45 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Blindfolds aren't really safety features.
I'm not an expert, and I have no inside or detailed information, but my understanding is that, to some extent, you cannot prevent people from chasing you on the internet (well, you could by not enabling this follow feature at all but we know that ship has sailed with Reddit). Due to this, for some people, the notifications of being followed are traumatic as it forces them to think about their stalker/harasser/abuser. It also encourages the idea of doing things like following under specific usernames that might reference something that would be upsetting to the survivor.
In cases like those, removing the notifications can be helpful. I am also somewhat aware that notifications can be unexpected and intrusive, and for some survivors they find that they are able to confront past abuse on their terms, but find the idea that anytime they hear a notification on their phone and it could be an abuser as particularly anxiety inducing. I think this gives more control in those situations.
Also... in general I think more control for users is always better than less. I'd really rather, as many others have said, that you could just turn this off altogether, but if Reddit isn't going to allow that, I'll at least take the ability to remove it from my experience as much as possible. Again - I'm not an expert on stalking or abusive online behavior and I have no special knowledge of this or Reddit's thoughts, just trying to give another perspective.
Comment by hurrrrrmione at 14/07/2021 at 22:50 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I mean, that's how blocking works on some sites - you don't see the blocked user anymore, but they can still see you and sometimes even interact with your content. I don't think it should be that way, but that is how some places handle it.
Comment by Topcity36 at 14/07/2021 at 21:17 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They are if you use them right!
Comment by Asymptote_X at 15/07/2021 at 01:03 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I don't get it, what more do you want besides not seeing the messages/notifications? What isn't accomplished by blocking them?
Comment by freet0 at 15/07/2021 at 01:13 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Somehow even not seeing the rude names is still unsafe lol. I mean of course, because you never know if they might be there.
But even being unfollowable doesn't fix that! Because there might still be people who *want* to follow you with rude names. You'll never know! Oh my god they could be thinking mean thoughts right this second!
Comment by ExcitedGirl at 05/10/2021 at 22:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Plus, someone can get their online friends to follow / harass you...