X (Twitter): Musk plans to remove the visibility of likes and repost counts from the main feed.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), has announced a significant change to the platform that has sparked a wave of backlash among its users. Musk plans to remove the visibility of likes and repost counts from the main feed, leaving only “view counts” as the visible metric. This decision has been met with criticism from users who argue it will diminish engagement levels on the platform. Here’s a summary of the unfolding situation:

1. Announcement of Changes: Musk confirmed that X would be undergoing changes where likes and reposts counts will no longer be visible on the main timeline. Instead, users will only see the view counts of posts.
2. User Backlash: The announcement was met with immediate criticism from X users, who labeled the move as “excessively stupid” and warned it would “greatly reduce engagement” on the platform. Users believe that visibility of likes and reposts encourages more interaction with posts.
3. Details of the Implementation: Despite the backlash, Musk stated that the change is “definitely happening.” While likes and repost counts will be removed from the main feed, they will still be visible to users who tap into a post to view more details.
4. Community Response: The community’s response includes suggestions such as adding a “dislike button” to offer more nuanced feedback options. Users argue that engagement is driven by the visibility of likes and reposts, and removing these metrics might negatively impact the overall dynamic of the platform.
5. Additional Features: Musk also mentioned introducing new features to the platform, including the ability for users to pin posts. This feature would allow pinned posts to be visible to all followers, with a new post being pin-able every 48 hours, as part of Musk’s efforts to enhance user experience on X.

The decision to alter how engagement metrics are displayed on X marks a significant shift in the platform’s approach to social media interaction. While Musk believes that view counts offer a sufficient proxy for engagement, many users remain skeptical about the impact this will have on their experience and the broader community dynamics on X.