Reddit has launched a new tool that allows users to block others from within their own inbox, hoping it will protect users from spam, trolling, and harassment.

The entertainment and social news networking service aims to shape itself a bit more around the needs of the individual user. Users would be able to customize their Reddit experience by blocking and muting other users on the site. The new feature expands on an existing option. The original tool was designed on blocking private messages but the updated version covers broader areas, Reddit user KeyserSosa.

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Reddit co-founder Christopher Slowe detailed the changes in an announcement on the site. Slowe stated that Reddit’s openness is a powerful platform, but it needs to increase the effectiveness of protecting its users from harassment.

“Our changes to user blocking are intended to let you decide what your boundaries are. And to give you the option to choose what you want — or don’t want — to be exposed to,” Slowe said in a statement.

To block a user, taps the “Block User” button while viewing a reply to a comment from the inbox. Once blocked, the user will no longer see any comments, posts or messages from the blocked user. In addition, the offending user will never be notified about it, so it is less likely to create an alternative account to continue the harassment. If the user wants to unblock someone or just view the existing block list, it will be shown on the “blocked” tab of the user’s preference.

Admins and mods are exempted to the new rule. Specifically, admins will see everything and mods will see content from blocked users only when said content is on a subreddit they moderate.

The new feature is also similar to Twitter's mute function, where users will never see any activity from a harassing user on the site, and the offending user is also unaware that they are being blocked.

TagsReddit, blocking tool, Reddit trolls, online harassment, Reddit blocking tool