Twitter beefs up harassment policy, embraces transparency

The social media giant updated its rules to be even stricter (and some may say more vague) in order to “continue to take action on accounts that cross the line into abuse.”

Twitter isn’t stopping at its tools that allow for blocking, muting and reporting users who cross the line. Now, when a user is suspected of abusive behavior, they will have to go through a series of steps to unlock their account. Those steps can include verifying email, phone number and possibly deleting the abusive tweet in question.

Here are a few highlights from the new Twitter rules:

Twitter has also revised its self-harm approach:

When we receive reports that a person is threatening suicide or self harm, we may take a number of steps to assist them, such as reaching out to that person expressing our concern and the concern of other users on Twitter or providing resources such as contact information for our mental health partners.

In other Twitter transparency-related news, Politwoops is coming back.