Threads users revolt as Meta AI chatbot launches without a block button

Threads users are pissed they can't block Meta's new AI chatbot - Engadget

Earlier today, Meta announced that it was testing a new Meta AI chatbot for Threads that would function a lot like Grok on X. Even though the "early beta" isn't available to most people on the platform yet, a number of Threads users have discovered its not possible to opt out of the feature or block chatbot's the account. While most people aren't able to interact with bot yet -- the initial testing is limited to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina and Singapore -- the public-facing @meta.ai account is viewable to everyone on the platform. The account's initial post has been met with a flood of angry replies from users demanding to know why, unlike any other Threads account, there's no option to block it entirely. Some users have even said that they have reported the account for spam, which typically ends with the option to "block," only to find out that the block didn't actually go into effect. When I attempted this reporting flow, the option to block never surfaced. "Users cannot block Meta AI" is currently the top trend on the platform, according to Threads, with more than a million posts about the topic. I've reached out to Meta for comment about why it has blocked the block button for Meta AI. The company previously told me that Threads users had options to see "fewer" posts from the bot in their feeds through muting or using the "not interested" button that informs the app's recommendations. People can also hide replies to their own posts if someone loops in the AI. A similar saga played out recently on Bluesky when former CEO turned Chief Innovation Officer Jay Graber announced that the company was working on an AI assistant to help users build custom feeds. The project, which has yet to publicly launch or post anything more than an introduction, quickly became one of the most blocked account on the whole platform, second only to Vice President JD Vance's account. This also isn't the first time an impossible-to-block Meta AI feature has been met with ridicule and outrage. The company previously launched a bunch of AI-generated Instagram profiles with bizarre personas. Meta said the blocking issue was a "bug" and promptly killed the project.

You can't block Meta's AI bot on Threads. I don't know what we did to deserve this.

Meta's new Threads AI chatbot cannot be blocked, and users are furious about losing basic control over their own feeds. Meta rolled out its AI chatbot on Threads this week, and it comes with a catch you didn't agree to. The new @meta.ai account, reported by Engadget, works a lot like Grok on X. You can tag it in a conversation, and it jumps in with answers about trending topics, live sports, entertainment, or breaking news. Recommended Videos The bot is currently in early beta access, limited to users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore. Its public-facing account @meta.ai is visible to everyone on the platform, but here's the problem: you cannot block it. Why are Threads users frustrated with Meta AI? People are angry because the three-dot menu next to @meta.ai's profile does not have a block option, unlike every other account on the platform. Some users tried to report it as spam, which usually triggers a block prompt, only to find the option either missing or broken. "Users cannot block Meta AI" became one of the top trending topics on Threads, with over a million posts demanding answers. What is Meta's official response to the backlash? Meta spokesperson Christine Pai told TheVerge that users can mute the bot, hide its replies, or tap "Not interested." However, those options are not the same as blocking, though. They can reduce how much you see the bot after the fact, but they do not stop it from appearing in your conversations entirely. The backlash is part of a bigger conversation happening across social media right now. Companies are pushing AI into every corner of your feed, and users are pushing back. Meta has already been rolling out AI features across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads is just the latest addition to that list. For Meta, it is a strategy to keep users engaged on its platform and make Threads more competitive against X. The problem is that most people want AI to be something they can choose, not something they are stuck with. Meta says it will keep collecting feedback during the beta before expanding further. Whether that feedback actually changes anything remains to be seen.

Threads users revolt over unblockable Meta AI account

Meta announced it is testing a new AI chatbot for Threads, similar to Grok on X. The "early beta" is limited to users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore, and is not currently available to most Threads users. However, the public-facing @meta.ai account is accessible to all Threads users, and its initial post has sparked significant backlash. Users are expressing frustration over their inability to block the @meta.ai account, a feature that is available for other Threads accounts. Many have reported the account for spam, anticipating that a block option would appear, but reports indicate that their block requests did not take effect. The trend "Users cannot block Meta AI" has surged to the top on Threads, with over a million posts addressing the issue. A Meta spokesperson previously stated that Threads users could see "fewer" posts from the AI bot by muting it or using a "not interested" button. Users can also hide replies to their posts involving the AI bot. Reports suggest that this situation mirrors a recent occurrence on Bluesky, where an announced AI assistant became one of the most blocked accounts after users expressed similar dissatisfaction. This is not the first time Meta has faced backlash over unblocked AI features. The company previously introduced AI-generated Instagram profiles that received criticism and were later terminated, which Meta described as a "bug." Meta has yet to comment on the current backlash concerning the block option for its AI chatbot.