Twitter Wants To Ban Dehumanizing Speech, Asks Users What They Think

Twitter has updated its hateful conduct policy with a planned ban on dehumanizing language. This restriction addresses content that may not have violated its previous policies, but that can contribute to a hostile environment for users and groups toward whom such language is directed. The company is asking its users to complete a survey to share their thoughts on the new policy.

"For the last three months, we have been developing a new policy to address dehumanizing language on Twitter," the company said in a statement today. "Language that makes someone less than human can have repercussions off the service, including normalizing serious violence."

The company considers dehumanizing language to include any content that dehumanizes a person "based on membership in an identifiable group." Examples include any language that "treats others as less than human," the company explained on its blog, including things based on race, religion, sexual orientation, age, occupation, health, political beliefs, location, and more.

Until October 9th at 6AM PT / 9AM ET, Twitter is asking users to provide feedback on its new policy, including whether it is clear, what changes could be made, examples of such speech that could be used in a "healthy conversation," and more. Twitter users can access the survey via the link below.

SOURCE: Twitter