Online platforms for communication and sharing content - Musk's X Reduces Transparency through 'Likes'
On the newly-acquired platform X, run by Elon Musk, future "likes" will no longer be public knowledge. Only the author of a post will be able to see who has liked their content, X's new CEO announced recently. However, users will still have access to their own likes. X defended the change by arguing for stronger privacy protection. The platform, which was purchased by the tech billionaire for approximately $44 billion, had just been criticized for allowing explicit material a week ago.
In the past, Twitter's "likes" were publicly viewable, causing a dilemma for some users when they accidentally or unintentionally liked offensive or inappropriate tweets. The feature was frequently used as a bookmarking tool as well. Some people reacted negatively to the news of decreased transparency in "likes," fearing that it might give automated bots an advantage in making their contributions more prominent on the platform.
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- Critics in the USA have raised concerns about X's commitment to privacy and data protection, given Elon Musk's decision to make 'likes' private on the platform.
- Some netizens in San Francisco are advocating for robust internet regulations to ensure transparency in online platforms, especially following Musk's move to hide 'likes' on X.
- The change in X's 'likes' policy has sparked a debate on Twitter, with many users questioning the impact this could have on the visibility of genuine content versus that of bots.
- Privacy advocates have lauded Musk's decision to make 'likes' private on X, viewing it as a step towards data protection and giving users more control over their online activities.
- Elon Musk's influence extends beyond SpaceX and Tesla, with his recent acquisition X being a reminder of the increasing power corporations have in shaping internet transparency and user privacy standards.
