Hello everyone!
I’m writing this because I’ve been facing an ongoing issue that I believe many other creators are likely also dealing with—the lack of a fully functional blocking system on itch.io.
The Situation
The current blocking feature on itch.io is severely limited. The 3 main concerns are:
- Blocked users can still follow and interact with the person who blocked them [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].
- Creators cannot remove individual followers or prevent specific users from following them [3] [4] [5]
- Blocked accounts can continuously un-follow and follow, causing harassment through notification spam
Additional Concerns:
- Users have no granular control over which activities are visible to followers [5] [6] [7]
- Blocked accounts can still purchase and download games from the blocker.
- Blocked users still appear in search results, potentially exposing creators to unwanted content or interactions [8] [9] [10] [13].
This system fails to protect creators from persistent harassment, allowing blocked individuals to continue their disruptive behavior unchecked.
Why This Needs More Attention
Multiple forum threads discuss the need for improved blocking and privacy features [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10].
Some of these are multiple years old, and yet there hasn't been any improvement yet, even though harassment is against itch.io's terms of service. [11]
It's possible other users already left itch.io becauseof this. I know I’m not the only one affected by this. Going public with this issue is scary and uncomfortable, it puts me in danger, and frankly, it shouldn’t have to be necessary.
I’m speaking out not just for myself, but for the many other creators who might be silently suffering from similar issues—unable to fully block someone from following them or viewing their activity, but too afraid or ashamed to speak up. We are being left vulnerable and unsure of how to use the platform without being reminded of unwanted attention.
Impact on Creators
The consequences of these inadequate features are significant:
- Creators face ongoing harassment without effective means to stop it.
- Some users limit their activity on the platform, potentially harming their careers.
- The fear of unwanted attention can stifle creativity and community engagement.
Comparison With Competitors
GameJolt, a competitor platform, offers a more effective blocking feature, highlighting itch.io's shortcomings in this area [12].
"Users you have blocked will be unable to follow you, and you cannot follow them."
The Need For Action
It's crucial for itch.io to please prioritize the safety and well-being of its creator community.
By implementing these changes, the platform can foster a safer environment for all users, encourage more creators to join and actively participate, and maintain its position as a leading platform for independent game developers.
What I’m asking for is a more robust blocking system that gives creators more control over their privacy and safety. Specifically, please consider implementing the following:
Feature Requests
- The ability to completely block a specific user from following your account.
- The ability to remove individual followers.
- More nuanced privacy settings that allow creators to select which activity should be shared on the feed
- Measures to prevent notification spam from repeated following/unfollowing.
- At the very least, the ability to turn off notifications for new followers.
The time for action is now. Creators deserve a platform where they can share their work without fear of harassment or unwanted attention. Itch.io has the opportunity to lead by example and set a new standard for creator protection in the digital space.
Citations:
[1] https://itch.io/t/3135579/question-and-concern-using-the-blocking-feature
[2] https://itch.io/t/1103073/hello-i-have-a-couple-of-questionsconcerns-about-conte...
[3] https://itch.io/t/1579134/can-i-remove-a-follower
[4] https://itch.io/t/2131019/remove-the-follower-feature-is-need
[5] https://itch.io/t/2528716/how-to-get-rid-of-followers-on-itch
[6] https://itch.io/t/1859503/is-there-any-way-to-stop-certain-types-of-my-actions-f...
[7] https://github.com/itchio/itch.io/issues/1212
[8] https://github.com/itchio/itch.io/issues/753
[9] https://itch.io/t/2012130/blocking-needs-improved-functionality
[10] https://itch.io/t/2994767/creators-i-blocked-should-not-appear-in-search-results
[11] https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms
[12] https://gamejolt.com/help-docs/start/block
[13] https://itch.io/t/2186265/add-ignore-option-for-individual-games-or-devs
I’m hoping that by speaking out, I can get enough support to finally see some meaningful change. I understand this is a tricky issue, and I don’t want to escalate things unnecessarily. But it’s clear that this isn’t just my issue—it’s a much larger problem that impacts creators everywhere. We all deserve to feel safe when sharing our work, without the fear of harassment or unwanted attention.
If you’ve faced a similar issue on itch.io or any other platform, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. This post isn’t just about me—it’s about ensuring that creators, of all kinds, feel safe and respected while they share their art with the world.
I sincerely hope that itch.io will take this issue seriously and consider updating its blocking features to help protect creators who contribute so much to this platform.
Respectfully Yours,
IDOLL_Dev