Twitter makes it easier to report trolls' abusive tweets

published 26 April 2016

Twitter has made it easier to combat trolls by letting users collect multiple abusive tweets in a single complaint report.

"This update makes it easier for you to provide us with more information about the extent of abuse and reduces the time it takes to do so," Twitter engineer Hao Tang wrote in a blog post.

"That added context often helps us investigate issues and get them resolved faster."

Twitter's latest update will be available on its web browser, iOS and Android apps in the coming weeks.

The social media company introduced a new Safety page last year, as well as suite of improved reporting tools in late 2014.

These tools gave users the means to report abusive users and asked them to share their block lists so Twitter can identify patterns with suspected trolls. In December, it claimed its anti-harassment measures have been working by enabling users to report trolls more easily.

Former CEO Dick Costolo admitted towards the end of his tenure that Twitter had not dealt with trolls effectively.

Twitter has been in the firing line, along with Facebook and Google, for "not doing enough" to curb harassment and extremism on its service.

Twitter disputes this claim, pointing to actions such as shutting down 125,000 ISIS-related account in February.

Tang said that further improvements are to come.

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