- Block Party pivots to Privacy Party after losing Twitter's API access
- Tracy Chou presents Privacy Party at SXSW as a tool to simplify privacy settings
- Privacy Party browser extension helps users manage online privacy more easily
Block Party, a startup founded by Tracy Chou, pivoted to Privacy Party after losing access to Twitter's API. Privacy Party is a browser extension that helps users adjust their privacy settings across various social media platforms with fewer clicks, acting as middleware to simplify the process.
What to know: After losing access to Twitter’s API, Block Party pivots to privacy. Twitter’s API changes in the second sentence. Block Party, a startup developed by software engineer and tech diversity advocate Tracy Chou, was among the victims of Twitter’s API changes earlier this year, forcing it to pivot its business. At the SXSW conference in Austin this weekend, Chou presented a glimpse of what Block Party is now up to with its new product, Privacy Party, designed to help people more easily navigate and adjust their privacy settings across social networks like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit, X, and others.
Deeper details: The original version of Block Party was built on top of Twitter’s API to automate the process of blocking bad actors, trolls, harassers, and others. The company raised $4.8 million in seed funding in 2022, a year after launch, with the goal of expanding its automated blocking to more platforms. However, Twitter’s API crackdown meant that Block Party’s ability to operate was immediately impacted. That product, now on hiatus, has since been rebranded Block Party Classic.
The backstory: Chou touched on the product’s demise at SXSW, mentioning that Block Party Classic had allowed Twitter users to filter out spam and harassment from their mentions, making Twitter more usable and pleasant without being a full-on content moderation solution. However, due to changes in Twitter ownership and API access, the original product had to be put on hold. Chou highlighted the importance of open APIs for future developments in the social media space.
Looking ahead: Privacy Party, the new focus for Block Party, aims to simplify privacy settings across various social media platforms. It addresses the need for users to easily manage their online privacy, especially in light of increasing harassment, doxing, and security threats faced by journalists and individuals. The browser extension offers personalized recommendations and automates the process of adjusting settings, providing users with more control over their data and online presence.
