Twitter is taking steps to ensure that users experience less harassment on the Site, if not eliminate the threat of abuse entirely.
The website just released an official calendar —one that details the steps they're taking for a hate-, violence-, and harassment-free Twitter.
Updated terms for a safer, more secure Twitter
The schedule was first circulated via an internal e-mail and was first seen on tech website Wired. It spans the period from October 27 of this year to January 10 of next year and includes a little more than a dozen steps that aims to reduce or even eliminate abuse on the site.
According to a report by The Verge, the steps aim to address a wide variety of topics related to online abuse. These include (but are not limited to) subjects such as "violent rhetoric," and hateful imagery.
There is also the fact that Twitter is gearing towards a more proactive approach towards suspending accounts. In the past, the usual approach was there has to be a sure evidence of violence or harassment before suspensions are brought down.
The website wants to change this; to have a more aggressive approach towards abusive or violent behavior. There is now a chance that groups and organizations promoting violence will be suspended outright.
The definition of non-consensual images will also be expanded, with creepshots and hidden camera footage being included in the list of definitions.
Accounts and organizations posting these kinds of content will find themselves immediately suspended.
There is also a clause on abusive display names — even these will be grounds for suspension of a Twitter account.
An ongoing effort to eliminate abuse
This is not the first time Twitter made efforts to combat abuse on the site.
In the past, Twitter had made promises saying that they will improve these aspects of the site. However, in the end, they felt like they have not done enough. Consider this new calendar schedule is their way of making up for past promises that had their executions falling short.
"This won’t be a quick or easy fix, but we’re committed to getting it right.
Far too often in the past, we’ve said we’d do better and promised transparency but have fallen short in our efforts," a statement from the company said.
It's interesting to note that Twitter claims they prefer to "err on the side of protecting victims." It's a good way to express that the website, indeed, wants to promote safety and security of the general userbase's interests.
