Elon Musk Announces Reversal: News Headlines to Make a Comeback on X
In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has reversed his decision to hide headlines from news articles shared on the platform. Musk made the announcement yesterday, revealing that an upcoming update will bring back headlines in the link previews of articles.
Back in October 2023, Musk made the controversial decision to remove headlines from news articles shared on X. The motive behind this move was to reduce the height of the preview window and improve the aesthetics. However, this decision faced significant backlash from users who found it difficult to grasp the context of a URL without the accompanying headline.
Musk’s recent post on X stated, In an upcoming release, X will overlay title in the upper portion of the image of a URL card. This means that while the headlines will be reintroduced, they will now appear at the top of the link preview window instead of their original position. The details regarding any changes in font size and headline placement remain unclear.
Speculations arose suggesting that Musk’s decision to remove headlines was aimed at boosting user engagement on the platform. Musk himself had mentioned that the algorithm of X prioritizes optimizing time spent on the platform, which results in less attention given to links. He suggested posting content in long form to maximize engagement. Additionally, he believed that removing headlines would greatly improve the aesthetic appeal of X.
Initially, the removal of headlines was implemented on the iOS app, followed by Android and the website. It is expected that the reversal will follow the same pattern during its rollout. However, no specific timeline has been disclosed regarding the update’s implementation.
Ever since Musk took over X, the platform has undergone several updates. Recently, a new feature was introduced for premium users, allowing them to gain a higher reach by adding posts to the Highlights tab. Musk emphasized that this addition aimed to promote replies, and abusing the feature could nullify its effects.
As the world eagerly awaits the return of headlines on X, users can be assured that their concerns have been heard. Musk’s U-turn demonstrates a willingness to listen to user feedback and make adjustments that align with their expectations. With the imminent update, X will regain a crucial element that facilitates content comprehension and improves the overall user experience.
