X just tweaked its algorithm to make it more friendly, less battleground
X has updated its algorithm to prioritize posts from mutual followers in an effort to reduce hostility in reply sections. The change aims to foster a more community-oriented environment rather than a platform for disparate voices.
Why it matters
Platform algorithm changes significantly impact user behavior and the quality of public discourse on social media.
X has made a “tweak” to its algorithm to boost the visibility of posts to users’ “mutuals” — the people they follow who follow them back, head of product, Nikita Bier, said Monday.
“We noticed this data was missing from the algo and it made your friends appear less in your replies. This resulted in the reply section feeling more like a battleground with people you don’t recognize.”
The change may not drastically revamp the site’s user experience, but may make X feel a little bit more like a community rather than a torrent of disparate voices shouting into the digital abyss.
Bier noted that the change would also “help clusters form around interests more easily, which many people have asked for.”
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