X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, plans to make “likes” private, according to Haofei Wang, the company’s director of engineering. Wang announced the change in a recent post on X, stating that the move is intended to encourage users to engage with more controversial content without fear of public scrutiny.
“Yeah, we are making likes private,” Wang wrote. He explained that public likes often discourage users from liking “edgy” content due to concerns about backlash from trolls or damaging their public image. “Soon you’ll be able to like without worrying who might see it,” he added.
In September, X Premium users were given the option to make their likes private. Wang’s latest comments indicate that this feature will soon be available to all users, not just those who pay for the premium service.
This shift comes amid a series of changes implemented by Elon Musk, who acquired the platform in 2022. Musk has spoken about modifying how likes function on X, suggesting in a March conference that likes and reposts might be removed from public view, leaving only the number of times a post has been viewed visible to users.
The decision to privatise likes has sparked some controversy. Critics argue that it could blur the lines between liking and bookmarking posts. Notably, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey expressed his concerns, implying that the change might diminish the distinctiveness of these actions.
High-profile users on the platform have occasionally faced ridicule for liking contentious posts, and the new policy aims to mitigate such incidents by providing a layer of privacy. The move is part of Musk’s broader efforts to overhaul the platform, fostering a space where users feel free to engage without fear of negative repercussions.
As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the privatisation of likes represents a significant step in his vision for the platform. How users will respond to this change and its impact on user behaviour remains to be seen.
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