X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has initiated a change wherein users’ likes are now concealed. This decision follows closely after the announcement by the Elon Musk-owned company, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding user privacy.
In light of this adjustment, individuals will no longer have visibility into the posts liked by others on the platform, whether through user profiles or within the posts themselves. However, users can still view their own liked posts, and the original authors of posts can see who has liked them. Like counts and other metrics will remain visible to all users.
On June 12, Musk underscored the significance of enabling users to express appreciation without fear of reprisal, stating, “it is important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!” This move comes in response to numerous instances where public figures, including politicians and celebrities, faced criticism for endorsing controversial content through likes.
Shortly after the update, Musk noted a significant surge in likes on the platform.
Massive increase in likes after they were made private! pic.twitter.com/f5SisAw5w3
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 13, 2024
This measure has been under consideration for some time, with X’s director of engineering, Haofei Wang, previously highlighting how public likes may inadvertently incentivize undesirable behaviors. Wang noted that individuals often refrain from liking content deemed controversial or “edgy” to avoid backlash or preserve their public image. Additionally, an increase in likes can enhance the accuracy of the platform’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed.
Also Read: Top RaaS Providers
The option to conceal likes has been available to subscribers of X Premium since September 2023. In conjunction with this rollout, X has updated its API to align with the new policy, limiting likes lookup functionality to retrieving the number of users who have liked a specific post and the likes for the authenticated user’s posts.
This update coincides with X’s adjustment of policies to formally permit “consensually produced and distributed” adult nudity or sexual content on the platform. The revised guidelines state that users can engage in the creation, distribution, and consumption of material related to sexual themes, provided it is consensual. In a separate move in March, X began allowing admins of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) adult communities to apply an “Adult Content” label to prevent automatic filtering of their posts.
Subhadra, a seasoned research analyst, specializes in distilling complex developments in blockchain and AI into insightful narratives. Her expertise lies in providing a nuanced understanding of emerging technologies, making her a trusted source for in-depth and up-to-date analysis at the intersection of blockchain and AI.
