X is implementing a change to hide post likes for all users. This move aims to make users' interests private and counter potential negative connotations associated with their likes. The change was first noted by X News Daily when users noticed the disappearance of the "Likes" tab on profiles.
X engineer, Haofei Wang, confirmed the test, stating that “Public likes are incentivizing the wrong behavior. For example, many people feel discouraged from liking content that might be “edgy” in fear of retaliation from trolls, or to protect their public image. Soon you’ll be able to like without worrying who might see it. Also a reminder that the more posts you like, the better your “For you” algorithm will become.”
However, the move has raised concerns. There are worries that this could facilitate negative trends and behaviors by providing an invisibility blanket for controversial opinions. If users like more controversial content, X's algorithm will show them more of it, potentially leading to radicalization.
X owner, Elon Musk, has previously been criticized for liking controversial content. X had already introduced the option to hide likes for paying users last year, making this expansion less surprising. However, the move is seen as potentially problematic. If users like more controversial content, it could lead to these posts being algorithmically amplified. The question arises whether X should be showing more of such content if users feel uncomfortable with their likes being public due to their controversial nature.
