Elon Musk's X will soon remove public likes (2024)

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Elon Musk's X will soon remove public likes? ›

X began hiding likes from users' public-facing profiles Wednesday, a day after owner Elon Musk confirmed the social media platform formerly known as Twitter will start automatically hiding users' likes, saying it's “important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!”

The move, according to the company, is to better protect users' privacy on the app. When you post, X will show you metrics such as the like count in your notifications, but you won't be able to see who tapped the little heart. People can still revisit posts they've liked under the “likes” tab on their profiles.

In an update posted on the platform formerly known as Twitter earlier this week, X's engineering team said it would be "making Likes private for everyone to better protect your privacy."

X will now hide who likes a post, in a move the company said would boost privacy. Experts say it could also limit the public's insight into the minds of the powerful and prevent them from being held accountable when what they like online contradicts their public stances.

"Starting today, Likes are private for everyone," X's engineering team tweeted Wednesday. "Liking more posts will make your For you timeline better." That now means that users can see which posts they have liked, but others can't.

"We are removing Likes and focusing on Followers to simplify the way people connect with their favorite Pages," Facebook said about the redesign.

Positive impact on mental health

One of the main reasons for Instagram removing the number of likes is because of the impact on people's mental health. Too many people get caught up on the number of likes they get and it's not healthy.

The change went into effect Wednesday. As of the afternoon, the “Likes” tab appeared to only be available on users' own profile page. But when visiting other accounts, that tab is no longer available. Users also received a pop-up notification that seemed to suggest the change would result in more user engagement.

XXX briefly expresses how the number 17 has shaped not only the album but himself, so much so that he has the number 17 tattooed on the right side of his head. He describes the number 17 to be 'My collection of nightmares, thoughts, and real life situations I've lived.”

Some people believe that hiding likes can have a number of positive benefits, such as reducing social pressure, promoting authenticity, and protecting users' mental health. One of the main arguments in favor of hiding likes is that it can reduce social pressure.

Why did Elon Musk hide likes? ›

Since Elon Musk's arrival at X (formerly Twitter), he has not only changed the name of the social network, but has also made other decisions to improve the user experience and increase privacy.

Creates a more positive environment. Facebook designed the option to hide likes so that users will focus more on the photos and videos rather than the likes. This could make for a healthier, more positive environment in which users have the freedom to express themselves.

Hiding post likes means they won't be visible publicly. However, you can still see them behind the scenes.

Go to the Likes tab on your profile page by sliding the tab below your profile information. Navigate through your likes and click the pink Like button on each post. Tapping this button unlikes the post and removes it from your list.

FILE - Computer monitors and a laptop display the X, formerly known as Twitter, sign-in page, July 24, 2023, in Belgrade, Serbia.

Comments and likes are removed when you block someone on Instagram. When you block someone on Instagram, their likes and comments will be removed from your photos and videos. Unblocking someone won't restore their previous likes and comments.

Technical issues are the most common reasons Twitter likes disappear, and their actions frequently go unnoticed. These issues include bugs, coding errors, or server outages. Twitter also experiences bugs, and when this happens, it may cause you to lose your likes and tweets.

Go to your profile and tap on the three horizontal lines at the top right corner of the screen. Choose Settings and Privacy, then scroll down to Like Count and tap it. In the Hide Like Count option, turn the toggle on or off.