Social network X can now make likes private, meaning that marks indicating user approval of published content will be hidden by default, according to The Verge, which cited a source within the company. This option is already available for X Premium subscribers.
Following the publication of this news, the owner of social network X, Elon Musk, shared a screenshot of the announcement, emphasizing the significance of the feature. He noted that “it is important to allow people to like posts without being attacked by the audience for it.” Last month, the site’s chief technology officer, Haofei Wang, mentioned that the feature was designed to protect users’ public image because “many people feel insecure” about posting controversial content. “Soon you’ll be able to like something without worrying about who will see it,” Wang said.
Changes to User Profiles
User profiles will no longer display a Like tag. According to X senior software engineer Enrique Barragan, users will still be able to see who liked their own posts and the total number of likes on all posts. However, they will not be able to see who liked another user’s post. This adjustment aims to enhance privacy and allow users to interact more freely without public scrutiny, notes NIX Solutions.
Late last year, Musk informed employees that he wanted to remove action buttons from tweets entirely and place more emphasis on post views (or impressions). This shift reflects a broader strategy to change how user engagement is measured on the platform.
We’ll keep you updated on further developments as social network X continues to evolve its features and user experience.