X (Twitter) Block vs. Mute: Know the Difference

Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps.

Afam has been a content writer with Guiding Tech Media since August 2023. However, his experience in tech writing dates back to 2018, when he worked as a freelance writer for Make Tech Easier. Over the years, he has grown a reputation for publishing quality guides, reviews, tips, and explainer articles. His work is featured on top websites, including Technical Ustad, Windows Report, and Next of Windows. He has training as a Microsoft Certified Professional and has covered more Microsoft-related guides on these platforms.

What Does Block Mean on X?

Similar toother social networks and chat apps, blocking someone on X also stops all communication with that person. When you block someone on X, they can’t follow you, see your tweets, tweet to you, retweet your tweets, or DM you.

If they try to view your profile using your username, X will display the “You are blocked from following this account” message. Basically, the other person will straightaway know that you have blocked them.

What Is Mute on X?

Mute is considered one of the coolest features of X. It is a less severe form of block. When you mute someone, they can see your tweets, follow you (in case they don’t), tweet to you, retweet your tweets, and even DM you. However, their tweets and retweets become invisible to you.

If you follow them, their tweets and retweets disappear from your timeline. While they can still interact with your tweets, you won’t be notified about any action, regardless of whether you follow them. It’s just like they exist in your profile, but their existence is not noticeable.

The best part is that they will never know that you have muted them. Your profile will seem normal to them. The only thing that might create some suspicion is that you never reply to them. Mute blocks tweets from appearing on your timeline without unfollowing or notifying the other person.

Difference Between Mute and Block

1. Timeline – Tweets and Retweets

Blocking a person will prevent the person from seeing your tweets or interacting with you easily. However, it doesn’t completely shut off your timeline for them, especially if you use public profiles. If you have a private profile, blocking will completely restrict your profile to them.

When you mute, your tweets will normally appear on their profile, but you won’t see their tweets or retweets on your timeline (in case you follow them). Your timeline will be free of their tweets.

In short, if you block someone, they cannot see your tweets, but if you mute a user, they can still see them.

2. Interaction – Mention, Quote, Favorite

Since blocking involves completely restricting the profiles, neither you nor the blocked user can interact with each other.

On the other hand, muted users can interact with you. They can DM you, favorite, retweet, mention, and even quote your tweets. But whether you will be notified about that depends on whether you follow them.

However, since their tweets cannot directly appear on your timeline, you can’t favorite or quote their tweets. But, if you go to their profile or tweet to them using their handle, you can interact with them.

3. Notifications

Two cases arise regarding notifications for muted accounts. You will get a notification if you follow them and they mention you or retweet/like your tweet. This means that replies and mentions that include your handle by the muted account will appear in yourNotificationstab.

But if you don’t follow the muted account, their notifications won’t disturb you. Even if they mention or reply to you, it will not appear in your Notifications tab.

When it comes to blocking, since they cannot see your profile at all, there is no question of notifications. If you think about it, muting someone is akin to giving them the silent treatment.

4. Follow and Unfollow

When you block a person following you, X automatically removes the user from your followers. If you block a person who doesn’t follow you, it’s obvious that they cannot follow you.

However, things are different for mute. Muting an account will not cause you to unfollow it, and neither will it remove them from your followers. Similarly, muted accounts can follow you, and you can follow muted accounts. However, after following the above conditions for the timeline, interaction and notifications will still apply.

FAQs

Can You Block a Muted Person and Vice Versa?

Yes, you can block a muted person. But you cannot mute a person if you have blocked them. You have to unblock them to mute them.

How Can You Tell if You Have Been Blocked or Muted?

The only way to tell if you have been blocked is to visit the other user’s profile. If you are welcomed by the “You have been blocked” message, you have your answer right there.

Does X (Twitter) Notify You When You Get Blocked or Muted?

Nope. It doesn’t send a proper notification, either. But if a blocked user visits your profile, they will be greeted by the message:You have been blocked!

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Last updated on 05 August, 2024

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