X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’
X's head of product, Nikita Bier, acknowledged that a technical error in the platform's algorithm suppressed posts from mutual connections, contributing to a more hostile user experience. The company is now adjusting the algorithm to prioritize community-focused interactions.
Why it matters
This admission highlights the significant influence algorithmic design has on social media discourse and the ongoing industry shift toward smaller, community-based interactions.
X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, admitted in a post on Monday that X’s algorithm was “missing” data about surfacing posts from people who you’ve followed back. Now, he says a tweak will “boost visibility of your posts to your mutuals,” hopefully enhancing the sense of community instead of highlighting and spreading random arguments, but didn’t explain how the data went missing in the first place.
Last week, Bier also said users who post original content will “climb faster,” after admitting that top accounts on the platform have been posting “stolen” recycled content from other users, and now this tweak might address the platform’s tilt toward controversy over other kinds of discussions.
> We’re rolling out a small tweak to boost visibility of your posts to your mutuals (people who you follow back).
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