Esther C, MD MPH Profile picture
Emergency care | mom | health services researcher | @MSNBC Health Columnist | bylines in WaPo, TIME, USA Today | https://t.co/AUOfI40bXS | @choo_ek at https://t.co/GMtMeihKfS

Jul 7, 2020, 9 tweets

Dear Women on Twitter:

Please check your Lists.

A Thread

Lists are a way for bad players to do efficient, coordinated harassment. Particularly if you notice an uptick in the volume of trolling, check your lists as one way of interrupting the process.

1. Go to your own home page. See that option below “Profile”? Click on that.

2. On your Lists page, look for the 3 little dots on the upper right. Click on them and you’ll see the option “Lists you’re on.” Now click on that.

3. You’ll see a list of Lists people have put you on. Generally they are very benign, but as you gain followers - and especially if you post about certain topics (racism, sexism, eg) - you’ll see yourself added to some really terrible ones (my favorite was “C*nts On Twitter”)

4. Sometimes the names are not that overt. It’s worth checking out the accounts of the person who owns the list (and who follow it) to see what they’re about. Once you click on the list, the owner is at the top, and its followers below that.

5. To take yourself off a list, block the owner. If it’s obviously vile, report the list too. These options can be accessed via the three little circles on the upper right again.

(This was just an example at the top of my lists, btw! I don't think it's malicious.)

It is unfortunate that there is no approval process for being added to a List. I have to scan every few weeks or so to remove myself from inappropriate ones.

I've been telling people one by one as I saw them being harassed, and the women univerally were like HOLY &$^# I'M ON THESE TERRIBLE LISTS so I thought I'd put out a general PSA. Judging by the comments, I'm really sorry not to have done this sooner.

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