Social media platforms have recently made a decisive decision by making ‘likes’ private. This major change raises questions about its impact on users and online visibility.
‘Likes’ become private
The platform of social media X, formerly known as Twitter, has recently made a significant decision aimed at enhancing user privacy. It is now impossible to see the posts that other users have ‘liked’ on their profiles. This measure has been implemented to address growing concerns regarding privacy protection.
Justifications for the new policy
The technical team of X announced via a post on the platform that this initiative aims to better protect user privacy. Online platforms are often criticized for the excessive transparency of personal information, and this approach is seen as a proactive response to these concerns.
According to Elon Musk, the CEO of X, making ‘likes’ private allows users to appreciate posts without fear of being judged or attacked for their preferences. Since the implementation of this measure, a ‘massive increase in likes’ has been observed.
Operation of the new policy
Although users can still see the posts they have liked, as well as the identity of people who liked their own posts, this information is no longer accessible to other users. This means that ‘likes’ lists will no longer be visible on users’ profiles.
Impact on the community
This decision to increase the level of privacy in interactions could have significant repercussions on how users interact on the platform. By allowing for more private content consumption, the platform hopes to encourage more positive interactions without the fear of social repercussions.
The community of X is diverse and includes various groups with different opinions and sensitivities. By reducing the visibility of ‘likes’, the platform seeks to avoid the formation of polarized groups and limit surveillance behaviors among users.
Changes on other platforms
X’s decision could inspire other social media platforms to follow suit. Privacy protection is a crucial issue in today’s digital ecosystem, and other platforms may adopt similar measures to meet user expectations and comply with increasingly strict regulations.
Evolution of the business model
Alongside these changes, X has adopted a more aggressive business model, particularly by selling ‘verification’ services that were previously offered for free to public figures. This verification, now available through a monthly subscription, also provides additional benefits such as longer posts.
However, the lack of identity proof in the verification process raises questions among users regarding the real value of this paid feature.
