6/12/2024—In a significant move towards enhancing user privacy, X has announced that all likes on the platform will now be private for all users. This decision is part of X’s ongoing efforts to protect its users and prevent public figures from facing PR issues due to their liked posts.
Under the new policy, users will still be able to see their liked posts, but the identity of users who liked others’ posts will be hidden. This means that while you can see the number of likes on a post, you cannot see who wanted it. However, metrics such as like counts for users’ posts will still be visible in notifications.
This change has sparked a mixed reaction among users. Some have expressed disappointment over losing the ability to see others’ likes, arguing that it was a valuable tool for discovering new content and engaging with the community. Others, however, have welcomed the increased privacy, particularly public figures who have faced criticism or backlash due to their liked posts.
The move is part of a broader trend in the tech industry towards greater user privacy. As public awareness of data privacy issues grows, companies are increasingly pressured to implement more robust privacy protections. X’s decision to make likes private is a significant step in this direction.
However, the change also raises questions about the impact of content discovery and engagement on the platform. Likes have traditionally been a critical metric for determining a post’s popularity and finding new content. With this change, users may need to rely on other metrics, such as comments and shares, to gauge the popularity of a post.
Despite the mixed reactions, X’s decision to make likes private is a bold move that underscores the company’s commitment to user privacy. As the digital landscape evolves, it will be interesting to see how other platforms respond and whether this trend toward greater privacy will continue.
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