When using X (formerly Twitter), you may sometimes come across words that unexpectedly feel difficult or emotionally burdensome.
'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' displays a gentle pause before you read posts that may contain strong or potentially distressing language.
You do not have to reveal or read the content behind the pause.
Reading the content is not the only valid choice.
Choosing not to read it right now, coming back to it later, or taking some distance can also be important ways to protect yourself.
This page introduces general ideas and options you can consider when a pause is displayed.
It does not recommend any particular action for everyone or make decisions on your behalf. Please use it as a reference to calmly consider what feels appropriate for your current situation and the level of burden you are experiencing.
Quick Guide: What You Can Do When a Pause Appears
- You do not have to reveal the content right away.
- If you are unsure, you can leave it hidden and step away for a while.
- You can come back to it later, or choose not to read it at all.
- Before revealing the content, consider how you are feeling right now.
- You do not need to reply or react immediately.
- If content from the same account keeps feeling burdensome, consider how much distance you may need.
- Depending on your situation, you can review options such as mute, block, DM settings, or reporting.
- You do not need to use these options in any particular order.
- If you feel intense fear or a threat to your safety, prioritize your safety and consider reaching out for support.
- 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' does not make decisions for you. It creates a small moment of space for you to pause and choose what feels right for you.
1. When a Pause Is Displayed
When a pause is displayed, the content of the post is still hidden.
At this point, you do not need to force yourself to guess what the hidden content says or what the person who posted it intended.
You can choose to:
- Not reveal the content this time
- Step away from the screen for a while
- Think about it again after you feel calmer
- Leave it unread if you feel there is no need to see it
- Talk to someone you trust about the situation so far before deciding
You also do not need to rush to reply or react.
If you find it difficult to decide, it is okay to leave the content hidden and step away.
2. When You Are Unsure Whether to Reveal the Content
Because the content is still hidden, you cannot know exactly what it says in advance.
Instead, you can consider what you have experienced so far and how much of a burden you are feeling right now.
For example, you might ask yourself:
- Do I need to see this content right now?
- Have posts from this account felt difficult or burdensome to me before?
- Have pauses been displayed repeatedly on posts, replies, or quote posts from the same account?
- Do I already feel anxious or tense before revealing the content?
- Would it be better to wait until I feel calmer before deciding?
- Would it be okay if I chose not to see the content at all?
You do not need to answer all of these questions.
The fact that you are unsure can itself be a reason to pause for a while.
If you cannot decide right now, it is also okay to leave the decision for later.
3. Options You Can Consider Right Now
Depending on your situation and the level of burden you are feeling, there are several options you can consider.
When It Feels Difficult to Take In the Content Right Now
You can leave the content hidden and step away from the screen for a while.
You may choose to think about it again later, or you may decide not to see it at all.
When You Want to See Fewer Posts from an Account
If seeing posts from a particular account is becoming burdensome, you can learn more about X's mute feature.
Muting is one option you can consider when you want to reduce how often you see someone's posts without significantly changing your connection with them.
When You Want to Limit Unwanted Contact
If unwanted contact, such as replies or DMs, continues and you feel that you need more distance, you can learn more about X's block feature.
When You Want to Report Something to X
If you feel that a post, account, DM, or other content may violate X's Rules or Terms of Service, you can learn more about X's reporting features.
When It Is Difficult to Think Through the Situation on Your Own
You can also talk to someone you trust or, if needed, look into an appropriate place to seek support.
You do not need to try these options in the order listed above.
Please consider the options that feel appropriate for your current situation and the level of burden you are experiencing.
4. When Content from the Same Account Keeps Appearing
A pause may be displayed repeatedly on posts, replies, or quote posts from the same account.
The number of times a pause is displayed alone cannot tell you anything definite about the person's intentions, personality, or how aggressive the account may be.
You also do not need to reveal and check the content every time a pause is displayed.
At the same time, if situations like the following continue, they may help you think about the level of burden you are feeling and how much distance you may want to keep:
- You feel anxious or tense whenever you see posts from the same account
- The repeated appearance of the pause itself is becoming burdensome
- You continue to receive unwanted replies, quote posts, or other interactions
- You feel pressured to reveal the content or respond quickly
- Opening X itself is starting to feel burdensome
In situations like these, you might choose not to reveal the content this time, step away from the screen for a while, or look into options such as muting or blocking.
You do not need to decide right away which option to choose.
There is no universal rule such as muting or blocking an account after a certain number of pauses have been displayed.
Rather than using the pauses to judge the other person, consider the level of burden you are feeling and how much distance you would like to keep.
When You Keep Receiving Unwanted DMs
Repeatedly receiving unwanted DMs can itself become emotionally burdensome.
You do not have to open the messages or reply to them.
If it is difficult to decide what to do right away, you can step away from the notifications or screen for a while and think about it again when you feel calmer.
If you want to limit future messages or contact, please refer to X's official Help Center for information about available options, such as DM settings, blocking, and reporting.
When it comes to DMs, you do not need to rush to respond to the other person.
It is okay to think about what level of distance you need.
5. About Mute, Block, DMs, and Reporting
X provides features that can help you adjust what you see and how much contact you have with other accounts.
Each feature works differently. Whether you use any of them is something you can consider based on your current situation and the level of burden you are experiencing.
Mute
Mute can be used to reduce how often you see posts from a particular account without unfollowing or blocking it.
It does not restrict all interactions with that account, so please check X's official Help Center to understand how the feature applies in different situations.
Block
Block can be used to restrict a particular account from following you, sending you DMs, or interacting with your posts.
However, if your posts are public, an account you have blocked may still be able to see them. Please check X's official Help Center to make sure the feature provides the level of distance you are looking for.
Direct Messages (DMs)
X provides settings for managing who can send you messages and how you receive them.
Even if you receive an unwanted DM, you do not need to open it or reply right away.
If you want to limit future messages or contact, please check X's official Help Center for information about available options, such as DM settings and blocking.
Reporting
If you feel that a post, account, DM, or other content may violate X's Rules or Terms of Service, you can review X's reporting options.
Whether to report something is not a decision that this page or 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' makes for you. A pause being displayed does not, by itself, mean that the content violates X's Rules.
X's features, names, specifications, instructions, and Help Center content may change over time.
Please refer to X's official Help Center for the latest information.
6. If You Feel Hesitant About Muting or Blocking
You may sometimes feel hesitant or guilty about using mute or block.
If you are unsure, you do not need to decide right away whether to use these features.
Using these features does not necessarily mean rejecting the other person for who they are or trying to punish them.
Muting and blocking are options you can use to adjust the information you receive and the amount of distance you keep from someone.
Someone expressing their words and you continuing to receive those words are two separate things.
The amount of distance you need may vary depending on the situation. You also do not need to use mute and block in any particular order.
If you are feeling emotionally burdened, it is okay to prioritize your own sense of safety and peace of mind.
Whether you use any of these features is something you can decide based on your current situation and the level of burden you are experiencing.
7. If You Feel Intense Fear or a Threat to Your Safety
Posts, replies, quote posts, or DMs may sometimes make you feel intense fear or concerned for your personal safety.
In such situations, you do not need to force yourself to reveal the content again, read distressing words repeatedly, or continue dealing with the situation on your own.
Depending on the situation, you can consider options such as:
- Leaving the content hidden and not replying or reacting
- Stepping away from the screen or online interactions for a while
- Talking to someone you trust about what is happening
- Keeping records of posts or interactions when needed, while taking care not to place additional strain on yourself or compromise your safety
- Reviewing X's blocking and reporting options
- Reaching out to an appropriate public service or professional organization if dealing with the situation on your own feels difficult
You do not need to reveal hidden content or repeatedly look at distressing words just to keep a record. If doing this on your own feels burdensome, you can also consider asking someone you trust to think through the situation with you.
If you are in Japan and feel that there is an immediate threat to your life or physical safety, consider contacting your local police. In an emergency, call 110.
This page does not determine whether an individual post constitutes defamation, an infringement of rights, or another legal violation.
It also does not provide legal determinations, medical or psychological diagnoses, or professional advice tailored to individual circumstances. If needed, please contact an appropriate public service or professional organization for your situation.
8. The Role of 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori'
'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' is not a tool for banning words on X or evaluating the people or accounts that post them.
It is a support tool that uses fixed rules running within your browser to display a pause before you read language that may feel emotionally burdensome.
The text being checked and the results of the check are not sent to external AI systems or services, nor are they stored as a history.
A pause being displayed does not mean that 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori':
- Evaluates the personality or intentions of the person who posted the content
- Determines how aggressive an account is
- Verifies whether the information in the content is true
- Determines that the content will necessarily feel emotionally burdensome
- Determines whether the content violates X's Rules or Terms of Service
- Determines whether the content constitutes defamation, an infringement of rights, or another legal violation
- Decides whether you should or should not reveal the content
Because the check is based on fixed rules and is intended only as a supportive measure, some language that feels emotionally burdensome may not be detected, while a pause may sometimes be displayed for content that is not problematic.
You can decide for yourself whether to reveal the content, when to reveal it, or whether to leave it unread.
Rather than making decisions on your behalf, 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' creates a small moment of space for you to pause before receiving the words that have reached you.
Closing
When a pause is displayed, revealing the content is not the only valid choice.
Choosing not to see it, waiting until later, adjusting the amount of distance you keep, or talking to someone you trust are all options you can consider to help protect yourself.
Someone expressing their words and you choosing whether to receive those words right now are two separate things. You can decide whether to receive the content, and when to receive it, based on your current situation and the level of burden you are experiencing.
If you cannot decide right now, it is okay to leave the decision for later and step away for a while.
We hope that 'Kotoba Uke Mimamori' can create a small moment of space for you to pause before receiving the words that have reached you, and to consider the choice that feels right for you.