X adjusts algorithm to prioritize posts from mutual followers
Social media platform X has tweaked its algorithm to boost visibility of posts made by users' mutual followers, aiming to foster a more community-like environment.
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has implemented an algorithmic change designed to increase the visibility of posts made by users' "mutuals" – individuals who follow each other on the platform. Nikita Bier, head of product, stated that this adjustment aims to make interactions on the platform feel more communal and reduce the perception of replies sections as a "battleground" populated by unfamiliar users.
The change emphasizes posts originating from reciprocal connections, which could facilitate the formation of interest-based clusters, a feature users have requested. While the impact on the overall user experience might be subtle, it could contribute to X feeling more like a community rather than a disjointed stream of content. This alteration is part of a broader series of changes X is making to enhance its position as a platform for content creators.
Earlier this year, the company revised its creator compensation models to incentivize original content over aggregation. Additionally, X introduced a video editing tool intended to simplify the process for users to create and publish original video content directly on the platform. These initiatives suggest X's strategic efforts to differentiate itself in the competitive social media landscape, particularly from rivals like Meta's Threads.
This algorithmic tweak from X occurs amidst similar efforts by competitor Threads to cultivate communities, including features offering users more private control over their feeds. The move by X can be seen as a response to this competitive dynamic and an attempt to create a more engaging and pleasant social environment for its user base.