X has rolled out an update making all Likes private to better protect user privacy. Users can still see their own liked posts, but others cannot. Like counts and other metrics for personal posts will still appear under notifications. This change aims to encourage more engagement with content without fear of public scrutiny or retaliation.
Key Points
- Privacy Enhancement: Likes are now private, allowing users to engage with content without worrying about public perception.
- User Control: Users can see their own liked posts, but these are hidden from others.
- Metrics Visibility: Like counts and other metrics for personal posts remain visible under notifications.
Rationale Behind the Change
X believes that public likes incentivize the wrong behavior, discouraging users from liking "edgy" content due to fear of backlash. By making likes private, users can freely engage with content, signaling their interests to the algorithm without concern for public judgment.
Potential Implications
- Adult Content: X has updated its policy to officially allow consensually produced adult content. This could pave the way for monetization opportunities similar to OnlyFans, enabling adult content creators to generate revenue through the platform.
- Increased Engagement: The privacy of likes might lead to more engagement with controversial or divisive content, as users feel safer from public accountability.
The move to make Likes private aligns X with other platforms where likes are not public. While it may encourage more engagement, it also raises questions about incentivizing questionable behavior by removing public accountability. Nonetheless, users can now like any content without fear of it being held against them.
