Twitter has removed in the past few days a feature that was promoting hotlines to communicate with organizations and bodies that provide support for suicide prevention, freedom of expression, and other safety sources for users looking for specific content, and according to two people familiar with the matter, the removal was ordered by the company's new owner, Elon Musk.
The feature, known as #ThereIsHelp, was not previously reported to have been removed and was appearing at the top of searches for specific contacts of support organizations in many countries related to mental health, HIV and vaccines. , sexual exploitation of children, COVID-19, sexual violence, natural disasters, and freedom of expression.
Removing the feature could add to concerns about the safety of vulnerable Twitter users.
Musk said impressions or views of harmful content had been declining since he took office last October, and he tweeted graphs showing a downward trend, although researchers and civil rights groups tracked an increase in tweets containing racist insults and other hateful phrases.
Neither Musk nor Twitter responded to a Reuters request for comment on removing the feature.
In this regard, AIDS United, based in Washington, and iLaw, a Thai group that supports freedom of expression, both of which were benefiting from promoting their services thanks to this feature, said yesterday, Friday, that the disappearance of the feature was surprising to them. .
"Aids United" said that the web page that was linked to the Twitter feature was attracting about 70 views per day until December 18, but after this date, the number of views decreased to 14 views per day in total.
Damar Junitar, executive director of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network, also tweeted on Friday about the feature's disappearance, saying it was "stupid action" on the part of the social media company that might prompt his organization to drop it.
I am mad to know that today Twitter stop the #ThereIsHelp Search Prompt for Freedom of Expression in Indonesia (and globally?)
Another stupid decision after the dissolvement of Trust and Safety Council last week. @nickpickles @kathleenreen @moranweea https://t.co/WkoujDVfu4
- Damar Juniarto (@DamarJuniarto) December 23, 2022
Reuters was not immediately able to determine why Musk requested the feature be removed.
The two sources familiar with his decision declined to be named to protect themselves.
One said that millions of people have come across "there is help" messages.