X is testing the removal of like, comment, and repost buttons from replies | Mashable.

X is testing the removal of like, comment, and repost buttons from replies

Elon Musk's X wants to kill the 'ratio.'
By Matthews Martins on 
X is testing out another design change that potentially removes the "ratio." Credit: Jaque Silva/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, is once again planning a controversial design change to the platform.

X is currently testing the removal of like, comment, and repost buttons, along with their counts, from replies to posts. The view count would be removed from reply posts as well. 

This change to X has not yet been released, but was discovered in code of the most recent X app, X for iOS v10.53, by X user @aaronp613. New features and platform changes discovered this way don't always go live and sometimes remain unreleased. However, this does shows that the company is seriously considering the move and officially testing out the removal of these buttons and counts. 

The removal of these features would only affect how replies look while viewing the original post. If a user clicked on a reply, the post page for that reply would reveal the like, comment, and report buttons and views.

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Unpopular changes to X

Removing interaction counts from replies would undoubtedly change the culture of X by affecting the social media meme known as the "ratio." When a user publishes a controversial or unpopular post on X, the reply posts from users who comment in the replies often receive more reposts and likes than the original post. This is known as a "ratio."

Musk is no stranger to making major cultural changes to X. Of course, the most obvious example is the complete rebranding of Twitter to X and the removal of the vernacular "tweet" to refer to posts.

Most recently, Musk's X made all users' likes private, a move that the company admitted was made in order to protect users who like controversial posts.

However, there have also been instances where X has backtracked on unpopular changes. Last year, X removed link headlines from posts because Musk did not like the way it looked. The contextless link previews caused trouble on the platform and X soon-after reverted back to displaying headlines. 

Last month, another similar X test was discovered in the code of the X for iOS app that removed like, comment, and reply buttons from the main original post when viewed in the feed. This change required that users swipe left or right to interact with a post. As of publishing, X has yet to make this feature live.

Topics  Social Media Twitter Elon Musk

Comments

  1. At this point, I just can't fathom why people are still on Twitter! (yes, I'm refusing to call it X as it's fvcking moronic)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm still there since there are a few Tory MPs who haven't blocked me.

      Delete
    2. Hope you’ll delete once you’ve achieved the accolade in its totality 😊

      Delete
    3. never even had a Twitter account.... 😂

      Delete
    4. Mashable are not only on X, but they pay Elon to be there.

      You might have to ask why you follow these people who make you hate others for buying a company.

      Delete
  2. What he needs to remove are the hoods from his Teslas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have not used Twitter for 4 years now I uninstalled it

    ReplyDelete
  4. How can musk show the world how many comments he gets

    ReplyDelete
  5. could work. often people repost replies out of context and that is not necessarily great.

    But removing likes sounds counter intuitive. Would probably reduce engagement.

    Would love to see what solution they have in mind to remedy the impact of the changes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. solution? He will probably sue somebody

      It’s his go-to move.

      Delete
    2. nonsense is misusing the courts to get revenge on people who won’t do business with you.

      But my comment was a joke Or more precisely sarcasm.

      Delete
  6. I’ve been using the Threads platform. Great alternative!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It needs to be totally pulled.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Freedom of speech this guy claimed he was protecting

    ReplyDelete
  9. Does anybody really use this platform anymore?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. there are a lot of bots on the platform

      Delete
    2. https://media.tenor.co/Wp3b-wJzXZoAAAAM/rufus-rufus-the-dog.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&fbclid=IwY2xjawEg9pRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHW-m2F04dpEV7xgmuk466OyYrpGTzRRLR7Lp5QE-5BcVOf44A6358tWkrw_aem_4QF7eqShSgl7madbl1xaJg

      Delete
    3. only all major governments, institutions, famous people and personalities that are nowhere else to be found as well as all major media and journalists.

      Delete
    4. he is going to change it. but that requires a lot of work and time because western audiences are not yet ready for all in one apps.

      major social media sources do not offer likes or reposting. so it is not such a big deal.

      Politically adversarial and thus, shortsighted people make fun of the changes on twitter/X but many have already been copied by other social media, (subscription) and some even tried to completely replicate Twitter by spinning out new services (i.e. Threads)

      Delete
  10. Elon changed his mind about buying Twitter and tried pulling out of the deal. In the end he was forced to buy it. I think he's purposely running it into the ground so he can claim losses which will lower his already insanely low tax burden. Just a thought

    ReplyDelete
  11. Did you read it? "The removal of these features would only affect how replies look while viewing the original post. If a user clicked on a reply, the post page for that reply would reveal the like, comment, and report buttons and views." And it hasn't even happened.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just remove the ability to post.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Controls to protect yourself from the narcissistic injuries ?

    ReplyDelete
  14. People need to wake up and ask themselves who Elon Musk truly really is?? Controlled opposition perhaps!? False hope!? I have never seen a billionaire with so much money invested into the auto industry space technology and whatever else have so much time to be posting things all day and every day!? Opinions on everything, opinions on every country, opinions on any election and the list goes on and on! Like this guy literally has more time at any hour of the day for social media than any teenager on this planet on summer holidays at the moment to socialize on the internet but yet he runs these immense billion dollar businesses? Give me a break!!! I barely can take time in my day to reply to this post while being an average person but here’s Elon every single day and all day!?? Really???

    ReplyDelete
  15. Can we test the removal of Elon Musk? Sounds promising to me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Space Karen will not be content until he drives every last cent of value out of what used to be Twitter. Never in history has a brand been single-handedly destroyed by a narcissistic egomaniac dilettante as quickly as Twitter. Tesla, in brand value is not far behind. https://imgur.com/a/j4XtubR

    ReplyDelete
  17. Seems like a great way to ensure freedom of speech?????

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just remove everything … it’s a complete waste now.

    ReplyDelete
  19. https://giphy.com/gifs/c2IZ3fB0rmRXy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Does somebody actually care?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Because no one cares about how many followers they have or likes they get or any comments others might have on their post ….AT ALL !

    It’s a NEW thing called Anti-Social Networking !!! 😃

    Everyone just likes posting into a black hole 🙄

    ReplyDelete
  22. What would the point of the remaining Twitter? Well, it' not like it was really worth anything before.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yes there must still be a few ways in which His Elon-ness hasn’t screwed up twitter, but I have confidence he will find them all. And gosh, it was so perfect before.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Personally, and fwiw, I would advocate the removal of “X” from all devices…

    ReplyDelete
  25. Why does anyone use this social media site. Musk is so creepy

    ReplyDelete
  26. so many other platforms

    ReplyDelete
  27. twitter is one of the only things the RWNJs haven't been able to control. he is simply trying to shut down objections to whack jobs

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMG, is that the form of $44 billion free-speech that Elon been bragging about?

    ReplyDelete
  29. What an insecure oaf he is.

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a disgusting person with a god complex. I will not support anything associated with his name attached

    ReplyDelete
  31. Now if he can just remove post and the ability to read, X would be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  32. The narcissist psychopath is on the war path. He doesn’t like being challenged

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am testing the removal of the X app from my life.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Soon, Elon Musk's $44 billions is about to evaporate into thin air 🤔🤔

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm sorry for addressing you in public, but this is the only way I can get in touch with you. I understand that contacting you without your consent would be considered impolite. I'm intrigued by your profile, and if it's not too much trouble, I'd love it if you could send me a message request or click on my profile to add me as a Facebook friend. Soon, I hope to hear from you.

    ReplyDelete
  36. How about testing the removal of Elon Musk? Asking for a friend.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Huh? That's stupid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm always happy to see what you share here on Facebook, but we're not friends yet, I've tried sending you a request several times but it doesn't go through. I would be so happy if you can just click on my profile and send me a request, but if you find this message embarrassing, please forgive my manners, have a safe day thank you so much

      Delete
  38. Delete yourself, X

    ReplyDelete
  39. So, the free speech absolutist is going out of his way to limit speech? .....got it.

    ReplyDelete
  40. The establishment and their bootlickers don't like X because it cannot be controlled by them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're weird.

      Delete
    2. you mean I think for myself. I suppose that is "weird" in 2024.

      Delete
    3. you don’t think, period. You joined a personality cult - probably more than one - and just regurgitate the bs you’re spoon fed.

      Delete
    4. you know fk all about me and my opinions you presumptious moron. Foxtrot oscar.

      Delete
    5. incelwaffen MF.

      Delete
    6. brilliant 🤣

      Delete
    7. isn’t that the point of “free speech”? That it can’t be controlled?

      Of course, Musk isn’t actually in favor of free speech. Just speech that he likes.

      Delete
  41. You freaks posted this a a day or two ago....

    But you still have not responded to the question
    WHY IS Mashable ON X AND WHY DOES Mashable PAY ELON TO BE THERE!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I don't understand why people keeps using this lunatic's social media platform, I shutdown my account and profile the minute I learned that he'd purchase it and I don't miss it....

    ReplyDelete
  43. هيخليها زلطه

    ReplyDelete
  44. Elmo Musk is a CONservative repukkkelican douche bag

    ReplyDelete
  45. CAUSE NOBODY LIKES X AND ELON SHOULD GO BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA WHERE HE WAS BORN AND BELONGS.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Twitter users will run away even faster....

    ReplyDelete
  47. Elmo is tired of Nazis and racist content getting ratio’d. He wants to suppress negative public opinion about bigoted speech.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Just remove the whole site instead.

    ReplyDelete
  49. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

    ReplyDelete
  50. Freedumb!!!!🤣🤣🤣

    ReplyDelete
  51. “If you don’t like my post ill sue you”

    Elon musk

    Probably

    ReplyDelete
  52. No one can convince me he wasn't put in to destroy that app ... Because if not he's made horrific business decisions

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it should be.... all social media should be really

      Delete
  53. X is apparently testing removal of most of its users from the platform.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I am so glad I left the day he purchased. What crap show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did the same thing. The day he bought it I said I’m done!

      Delete
  55. In all fairness with the quality nowadays of interaction on any social media platform, this is probably good news.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Anything that puts it as far as possible from the woke twitter it was is great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. if you hate woke so much, go back to Russia, you'll find it the perfect woke-free country you remember it being 🤦‍♀️

      Delete
  57. Let's test the removal of X 😄

    ReplyDelete
  58. Why don't they try to remove Musk instead?

    ReplyDelete
  59. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, Elon.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Past users have been testing the removal of “X” and anything to do with Elon 😀

    ReplyDelete
  61. The right wing propaganda radio in our region, in canada, is called radio X and I'm thinking "X" is their rallying banner like the X on the confederate flag.
    Either that or Elon is complicit in the new kleptocracy, where the heads of big american companies crash stocks and short sells all the way down, making money hand over fist. Go Woke go broke is part if their tactics to increase polarization and hate, while laughing all the way to the bank.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I’m opening bets on when Elon gets another hair transplant.

    ReplyDelete
  63. We just need to remove X

    ReplyDelete
  64. I quit using Twitter 4 years ago & uninstalled the app

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anyone who's still on that platform is a glutton for punishment.

    ReplyDelete
  66. How is the removal of something people use all the time a "feature"?

    ReplyDelete
  67. Just close the app. It’s been destroyed piece by piece.

    ReplyDelete
  68. That's what the rich does all the time, control the people, like North Korea, Russia, and China. Anyone can laugh all they want, but it's been going on for hundreds of years, in every country around the world. Ones that laugh are probably in on it themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Or, they are just measuring the impact of such a move, and have no intention of rolling it out.

    But why let facts get in the way of a good story.

    ReplyDelete
  70. The man of "Free Speech" is on top of taking the freedom to like, comment, and repost buttons from replies away from the Users away...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No he is not. All of those will still be available. It’s just a matter of making the design more clean and focused. To interact with a post you just click on it first, then you can like and repost to your hearts content… 😄

      Delete
  71. Cool, it's going to be less popular than Tumblr
    https://giphy.com/gifs/JBSLCI06HEUPm

    ReplyDelete
  72. I mean, if they get rid of all the elements that make Twitter a social media, then what is it going to be now?

    ReplyDelete
  73. antisocial personality media

    ReplyDelete
  74. If people can't communicate they can't discuss our debate the truth... censorship 100%... once they learned they could control us using nerualink by linking two people together it was game over... its time for the dictatorship...🤣😂🤣

    ReplyDelete
  75. Once again #elonmusk thinking he knows best #twitter was an unbelievable tool while #x is a joke

    ReplyDelete
  76. I signed up for Twitter, not "Twatter". 🤨

    ReplyDelete
  77. Musk X a completely contradictory character
    Always saying one thing doing the exact opposite

    ReplyDelete
  78. So it will be a non-social social media then. Lmao
    https://giphy.com/gifs/W8zSq0vELdBhMAJdG3

    ReplyDelete
  79. https://media1.tenor.co/m/Q-RgdXQDLv8AAAAC/slice-execute.gif?t=AAYfH1k8Xs0HAu5oRQTCkw&c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2s&fbclid=IwY2xjawEg-yVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVoWsjjmojgxKZ81NM-j4x-KUY4h7R4V_-NBz7Pn_RHfzywp1kkn3QObFg_aem_AyhpCRir35dPKUYkDyjqYg

    ReplyDelete
  80. Why would anyone still use X?

    ReplyDelete
  81. Elon Musk is suicidal. Although he can do whatever he wants with his $44 billions investment, X users will migrate to another platforms that have the same things he cancels 🤷🤷‍♂️

    ReplyDelete
  82. Everything is for Elon to have a better experience

    ReplyDelete
  83. That will work out amazingly I'm sure. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  84. X is currently testing the removal of like, comment, and repost buttons, along with their counts, from replies to posts. The view count would be removed from reply posts as well. 👉 https://bit.ly/45yhR7O

    ReplyDelete
  85. Why? What will that accomplish?

    ReplyDelete
  86. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling
    but in rising every time we fall
    HMU GLORY I got a blessing for you.
    Stay blessed.✊

    ReplyDelete
  87. Never used it, never will.

    ReplyDelete
  88. he's definitely intentionally trying to kill twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  89. ﹺ       ﹺ ﹺ       ﹺ
    Risky ✨

    ReplyDelete
  90. X IS A DUMBster 🔥 fire.
    I gave up yrs ago, checked days ago. It’s a GOP echo chamber dude fest 🤣

    ReplyDelete
  91. People use social media for the gratification of the likes. So removing it will kill the usage. I'm ok with that but seems like a bad business move.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Soon they will want us only communicating this way. 😭😭😭

    ReplyDelete
  93. It's all about free speech

    ReplyDelete
  94. ...but the defamatory deep-fakes and blatant partisan censorship are here to stay!

    ReplyDelete
  95. #sissyspacex even ruined the #Twitter 🌽🤷🏽‍♂️

    ReplyDelete
  96. Social media civil war is inevitable.

    ReplyDelete
  97. wow. so innovative. 🤡

    ReplyDelete
  98. Dying on the vine 🤪

    ReplyDelete
  99. Can it be used against individuals he disagrees with or is it a blanket change? Looks like some less than ethical stuff he is always up to.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Just kill it completely and get it over with, please, so people can move on.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Elon can’t stand the heat so tries to end the fire!luckily never made a tweet in my life.

    ReplyDelete
  102. How about a test removal of Ego Mush 😁

    ReplyDelete
  103. So it basically becomes a fckn bulletin board of lies and hatred. Oh GREAT 🙄

    ReplyDelete
  104. Oh Mr free speech cutting off your free speech

    ReplyDelete
  105. We just need to remove X

    ReplyDelete
  106. Why is anyone still on this white supremacist owned site?

    ReplyDelete

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