Twitter, now called X, has just made a big change that everyone is talking about. From now on, likes on tweets will be private. This means only you and the tweet’s author can see likes. Previously, this feature was only for premium members, but now it’s set as default for everyone. The update was announced through X Engineering’s tweet, aiming to make it easier for users to express themselves freely and engage more genuinely. In this article, we will be explaining how this update affects user interaction, and businesses that use X to promote their products.
Hiding Likes On X: Official Announcement
On June 11th, an official statement was announced that they would be making Twitter likes private for all users that week. The next day, on June 12th, they confirmed that the feature had been rolled out. The announcement emphasized better protecting user privacy with several key points:
likes are now private pic.twitter.com/Xt7ziR5u4D
— X (@X) June 12, 2024
- Users will still be able to see the posts they have liked, but others will not.
- Like counts and other metrics for a user’s own posts will still appear under notifications.
- Users will no longer be able to see who liked someone else’s post.
- The author of a post can still see who liked their posts.
On the following days, every user on the platform received a pop-up notification when using the app, informing them of the change and its implications. The notification read, “Your Likes are now private. We are making Likes private for everyone to better protect your privacy. Liking more posts will make your ‘For you’ feed better.”
Comparison with the Previous System
More often than I’d like to admit, I’ve wasted at least half an hour just endlessly scrolling through the likes of a random stranger I stumbled upon in the comment section of a tweet. And let’s be honest, I’m not the only one who’s done this.
Under the old system, likes were public. Anyone could see who liked a tweet, similar to TikTok, where you can click the heart button on a profile to see what they’ve liked, except, TikTok has the option to enable or disable this feature. X was aware that some users would prefer to have the option to hide likes on Twitter, which is exactly why they added it as a feature for Premium members only back in September.
With the new update, you can still see the like count on tweets, but you won’t know who liked them. This means you can like tweets without worrying about what others might think. If you’re a business looking to buy Twitter likes, you can now do so freely, and no one will be able to tell. It’s designed to reduce social pressure and let you engage more freely and genuinely. The privacy boost is huge, putting an end to those “gotcha” moments when a public figure likes something offensive and gets canceled for it.
However, the downside is that it removes some transparency. You can no longer see who liked someone else’s tweet, which can make it harder to understand the tweet’s impact and reach. While the author of a tweet can still see who liked their post (only through scrolling on notifications), other users cannot. Critics argue that while this change encourages free expression, it might let people avoid accountability and hide important social signals. It could also lead to more passive engagement since people can like things without anyone knowing. Despite these concerns, this update is part of a bigger trend towards more privacy and control for users on social media.
How to Navigate the New System
With the update making Twitter likes private, you might be wondering how to navigate this new system. Fortunately, viewing your liked tweets remains straightforward:
- Open X (Twitter) App or Website: Log in to your account.
- Go to Your Profile: Click on your profile picture or username to access your profile.
- Click on the “Likes” Tab: Here, you’ll see a list of all the tweets you’ve liked. This list is now private and only visible to you.
This simple process ensures that you can still keep track of your liked tweets without exposing them to the public.
No Change to Other Features
While likes on X are now private, it’s important to note that no other features have changed. You can still use all the other familiar tools to interact and engage with content on the platform. Retweets remain a powerful way to share content with your followers.
If you come across a tweet that you find interesting or valuable, you can retweet it to your own followers, ensuring that it reaches a broader audience. This feature allows you to amplify content you support or find relevant without the need for public likes.
Here’s a quick recap of key features that remain unchanged:
- Retweets: Share tweets with your followers effortlessly. Retweeting helps spread important messages, interesting content, or promotional material to a wider audience. If you’re looking to boost your reach even further, you can buy Twitter retweets to enhance the visibility of your content.
- Replies: Engage directly with tweets by replying to them. This feature encourages conversation and interaction, allowing for more detailed and visible discussions.
- Direct Messages: Communicate privately with other users through direct messages. This is useful for personal conversations or business inquiries that you prefer to keep off the public timeline.
- Quotes: Add your own commentary to retweets by quoting them. This allows you to share your perspective or additional context with your followers.
Despite the change in how likes are displayed, these features ensure you can continue to interact and share content in a way that suits your engagement style and goals.
Final Thoughts
This update offers a mix of benefits and challenges. On one hand, it enhances user privacy and encourages more engagement by allowing users to like content without fear of public judgment. On the other hand, it reduces transparency and might alter the communal aspects of the platform. While some users appreciate the added privacy, others miss the social signals and transparency that public likes provided.
As a social media marketing agency, we see this update as an opportunity to explore new ways to engage with audiences on X. If you’re looking to boost your presence on X we offer you Twitter Management Services, designed to help you navigate these changes and maximize your social media impact.
I kicked off my blogging journey back in my university days as a marketing student and totally fell in love with writing. Now, I’m freelancing for several websites, including RedSocial. If you ever want to chat, give feedback, or collaborate, don’t hesitate to reach out!
