Likes on X, formerly Twitter, are now private
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Social network X has made likes of posts private, meaning people can’t who has liked what.
“This week we’re making Likes private for everyone to better protect your privacy,” the Xeng accounted posted.
Like counts are still visible, but only the person making that “like” and the post’s author can see if a person has liked a post. Xeng explained the shift in a post:
“– You will still be able to see posts you have liked (but others cannot).
– Like count and other metrics for your own posts will still show up under notifications.
– You will no longer see who liked someone else’s post.
– A post’s author can see who liked its posts.”
“Important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so,” Elon Musk said ahead of the change.
Musk has previously voiced an interest in far-right organisations and figures including Germany's AfD and conspiracy movement Qanon on the platform.
The social network’s user base in general has also become more right-wing since it was bought by Musk in 2022, according to a recent Pew Research Center report.
Musk posted that the change saw a significant increase in the overall volume of likes on X, although it’s too early to tell whether this will prove a long-term change.
Some X users who are not fans the switch have noted it makes it impossible to tell whether a post’s engagement is largely fuelled by bots
X announced a purge of bot accounts on the platform in April, while Musk has posited the idea of charging new users who want to register an account to deter bot-makers.
“Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots,” Musk posted in April.
X has trialled a $1 annual fee for user of the platform in New Zealand and the Phillippines, the charge required to post or interact with other posts. The trial began in October 2023.
However, Musk has also suggested a future charge may only apply for three months after an account is created.
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