Major Shift as X (formerly Twitter) Hides Users' Likes
In a significant change, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, now X, is removing the feature that allows users to see what posts others have liked. This move, spearheaded by Haofei Wang, the company's director of engineering, is aimed at safeguarding users' public image and promoting the liking of "edgy" content without the fear of judgment. Notable figures such as Ted Cruz, Liu Xiaoming, and Elon Musk have faced criticism for engaging with controversial content. X, under Musk's leadership, has already implemented various alterations, including the introduction of a Premium subscription feature that hides likes for a fee. As a result of this transformation, users will only be able to view who has liked their own posts and the total like count for all posts, while they will no longer have access to the "Liked" tab or the ability to see who has liked others' posts.
Key Takeaways
- X (formerly Twitter) is concealing likes to preserve users' public image
- Users can like posts without the concern of public visibility
- Like counts for posts/replies will remain visible
- Unable to view who has liked others' posts or access their "Likes" tab
- This change follows the backlash faced by high-profile users over liking controversial content
Analysis
Haofei Wang's decision to hide likes on X (formerly Twitter) is aimed at protecting users' public image and encouraging genuine interaction. While this change can alleviate the immediate pressure on users to engage only with socially acceptable content, in the long run, it could potentially lead to decreased user engagement and reduced data available for targeted advertising.
Similar platforms such as Facebook and TikTok may follow suit, which could impact their advertising revenue and user experience. Shareholders in these companies should closely monitor the situation. Furthermore, application developers may need to adapt their strategies to accommodate this shift in social media behavior. Ultimately, this move has the potential to reshape the social media landscape, with a focus on prioritizing user privacy over public like visibility.
Did You Know?
- X (formerly Twitter) is hiding likes to protect users' public image: This change aims to enable users to like content without the concern of their likes being publicly visible, particularly benefiting high-profile users facing criticism for engaging with controversial content.
- Unable to see who has liked others' posts or access their "Likes" tab: This move is designed to protect users' privacy and prevent the public shaming of those who engage with controversial content.
- Like counts for posts/replies remain visible: Although individual likers will be hidden, users can still view the total number of likes for each post and reply, allowing them to gauge the popularity of the content without revealing specific users.