Why Has X Made Likes Private?
In a recent update posted on June 13, 2024, X (formerly known as Twitter) announced a significant change: “Likes will be made private for everyone to protect your privacy better.” According to the platform’s engineering team, users will still be able to view their own likes, but these will no longer be visible to others. This marks the end of a feature that many users have utilized for years.
This change means users’ likes on the platform will be hidden by default, a feature already available to X’s Premium subscribers. Following the publication of this story, X owner Elon Musk reshared a screenshot of it, commenting that it’s “important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!”
The “Likes” tab now appears only on your own profile page. When you visit other accounts, that tab is no longer available. The main reason for hiding likes, as explained by the engineering team, is that “many people feel discouraged” from liking “edgy” content.
Features of ‘Private Likes’ on X
The engineering team has detailed the functionality of the ‘private likes’ feature on X:
- User Visibility: Users will still be able to see the posts they’ve liked, but others will not.
- Metrics Display: The like count on users’ posts will still be visible in notifications.
- Anonymity: The identity of individuals who like posts will no longer be disclosed.
- Author Insight: Post authors will retain the ability to see who liked their posts.
The hidden like count is one of many changes implemented since billionaire Elon Musk purchased the platform for $44 billion in 2022. Along with the new name and logo, other changes include eliminating the once-coveted blue checkmarks for non-premium users, only to restore them for some users later on.
Mixed Reactions to In-App Changes
The in-app changes have received mixed reactions on the platform. When X initially removed verification badges from prominent officials and news organizations, many expressed concerns about misinformation. Additionally, the platform has faced increasing pushback from both users and advertisers amid ongoing worries about content moderation and hate speech. Some researchers claim that these issues have worsened under Musk’s leadership.
As X continues to evolve under new ownership, the implementation of private likes represents a significant shift in how user interactions are displayed. Whether this change will positively impact user experience and privacy remains to be seen. However, the platform is undergoing substantial transformations to adapt to new challenges and user expectations.