Elon Musk ignites controversy after making X likes private
Topics: Elon Musk, Technology, Twitter
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Steve Granitz/Peter Dazeley
Topics: Elon Musk, Technology, Twitter
Elon Musk’s latest tweak to Twitter - sorry, X - has divided users right down the middle.
Since taking over the X, Elon Musk has introduced a whole host of changes.
From the small changes of the app’s logo from a bird to an X, in line with the name change, to the larger of making users pay a subscription to be ‘verified’ members on the platform.
Since taking the reins, the billionaire has also faced his own string of controversies too, including around his treatment of staff and mass job cuts at the company.
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Just like any change on the social media platform has its fans and critics, this new change is no different.
If you logged on to X today you would likely get this message explaining the change.
“We are making Likes private for everyone to better protect your privacy. Liking more posts will make your ‘For you’ feed better,” the app said.
The private likes feature was already available to paying users, but has now been rolled out to everyone.
This means that for the first time, all users will be able to hide which posts they have liked on X as they will now be hidden by default.
Writing about the update on X, Musk said: “Important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!”
For some who like to support posts but remain more incognito, this is a game-changer, but not everyone is a fan.
"Likes are private now, Elon has ruined this app,” commented one person who shared an image of someone groaning.
“Likes are now private. Genuinely 9/11 for a nosey [person] like me,” commented another.
“Twitter likes becoming private just ruined the lives of obsessed stalker girls everywhere,” a third added.
"'Twitter likes are now private' no more winning arguments instantly by outing some middle age bloke as a foot pest ffs. Games gone,” a frustrated user commented.
“Now that likes are private on this stupid s**t site please remember to retweet artists posts so new people can find them,” a concerned user added.
However, others have argued this change is good for the platform and agreed with Musk that it helps increase a person’s privacy.
“Horny Twitter users seeing that likes are private now,” commented an X user while sharing a Succession clip of Tom Wambsgans celebrating.
“Hey guys it's safe now! You can now engage with my embarrassing content without feeling ashamed of yourself!” another added.
What do you think? Are you happy with the latest change by Musk?
UNILAD has contacted X for comment.