(Pocket-Lint) – Twitter has launched a new reporting tool that allows users to easily flag malicious tweets. The idea is to make it easier for Twitter users to report things that might be problematic.
It’s a little difficult to flag historically problematic tweets. Users had to work their way through various awkward menus that were often confusing and helpless.
Inside December 2021 Twitter revealed that it was working to improve the experience because it made conscious people frustrated. The company receives millions of reports of spam, hate speech, misinformation and all sorts of tweets. So it is important to make sure that the system works for everyone.
After some limited user testing, Twitter is now ready to roll out the new simplified reporting process to more people.
How to report problematic tweets
Process for Reporting tweets Now modified for a more “symptom-first” approach. This means that when you click to report a tweet you will be asked to select multiple options why the tweet is a problem to break it.
The first thing to do is find and select the three dots next to a tweet, then click to report that tweet.
You will then be asked to select:
- Who is the report about – does the tweet affect you, someone else, a group of people, or more?
- Problem – Is it a hate message, harassment, spam, annoying content or something else? You can also select several options here
- How tweets are causing problems – Choose options to describe why tweets are a problem, such as using slurs, intimidation, sending graphic images, spreading false information
Then send the report.
This reporting process is more about what happened and who is affected, so it is easier to report problems in a useful way. Twitter says that while testing this new reporting process, there has been a 50 percent increase in “actionable reports” and therefore your reports are more likely to be effective.
In addition to reporting specific tweets, you can fully report a Twitter account. To do this go to the problematic account profile and click on the three-point icon and select to report. Follow the steps and you will have the option to select tweets from the account showing the problem
After you submit a report, Twitter will review it and then evaluate whether it is Violates company policy. If so, it could take action, including sending a warning to ban the account from Twitter. If Twitter takes action you will receive a message informing you of what happened.
Writes Adrian Willings.
