Elon Musk confirms the change, making users’ likes private.
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has introduced a significant update that hides users’ likes on other people’s posts from public view. The change was confirmed by Elon Musk in a tweet, where he stated, “Your likes are now private,” signaling a shift in how user activity is displayed on the platform.
Under this new policy, users will still have access to their own liked posts and will be able to see who liked their posts. However, the ability to view what others have liked will no longer be available, which removes a feature that had been a staple of the platform for years. The tab on user profiles that previously displayed liked posts has been removed entirely, reflecting the privacy shift.
The change is designed to give users more control over their interactions and to reduce the pressure of public visibility. According to Haofei Wang, X’s director of engineering, public likes often incentivized undesirable behavior, such as users holding back from engaging with content that might be considered controversial or “edgy” due to fears of backlash or social consequences.
Wang further explained that some users felt discouraged from expressing their true opinions or showing support for certain content because of the potential for online retaliation. By making likes private, the platform hopes to foster a safer, more open environment where users can engage without worrying about the public perception of their actions.
The move follows a broader trend in social media toward enhancing user privacy and reducing the emphasis on visibility for actions like liking posts or commenting. It also reflects Musk’s ongoing efforts to reshape X’s features to be more in line with his vision of a more open and less curated platform.
While some users have welcomed the privacy change, others are questioning how it will impact the platform’s social dynamics. Historically, public likes served as a way to gauge content popularity and engagement, making it a key feature for influencers and creators. Without this visibility, some wonder whether users will feel less motivated to engage with content.
This update has been rolling out since Wednesday, and while it’s still early, the change is expected to significantly alter how interactions unfold on X. Only time will tell how it will influence user behavior and the platform’s overall culture.