Thread by @Angie_RejoinEU

‘Likes’ and why they matter on X

Likes were part of real-time social interaction and discovery. Moving them into a hidden/history area removes frictionless browsing, weak-tie networking, and accidental discovery between smaller accounts

It shifts X further from community interaction toward passive algorithmic consumption.

A thread …. 🪡

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

1

This isn’t mainly about privacy.

It’s about removing an active social layer from the platform.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

2

Likes used to function as live signals of:
•interests
•communities
•conversations
•emerging accounts

Now they’re buried behind extra steps.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

3

Most online interaction is passive and opportunistic.

If something is no longer instantly visible, engagement drops sharply.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

4

Small accounts benefited most from visible Likes.

People discovered new voices through mutual interests and social trails, not just algorithms.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

5

Large accounts already have audience momentum.

Smaller accounts relied more on ambient discovery and network overlap.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

6

Moving Likes into a history-style area changes the culture of the platform:
less exploration,
less serendipity,
less peer-to-peer discovery.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

7

It pushes X further toward:
broadcasting,
algorithmic feeds,
creator hierarchy

…and further away from community interaction.

@grok @elonmusk ‘Likes’ and why they matter on X 🪡

8

Visible Likes were part of how Twitter/X felt socially alive in real time.

Hiding them changes the texture of interaction itself

@grok @elonmusk @threadreaderapp unroll