Since Elon Musk took over Twitter and moved it to X, the platform has seen various changes. Notably, X introduced paid verification badges and removed headlines from link previews. However, X has now decided to bring back headlines to link previews, but only for iOS and web users, leaving Android users unaffected. Musk’s initial decision to remove headlines was driven by aesthetic reasons, but it’s possible that a Reuters article he shared without context in November played a role in his change of heart.
This move shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Musk had hinted about it back in November when he called for headlines in posts. He mentioned that the title would be located in the upper po[r]tion (sic). However, Musk remained firm on the importance of aesthetics, expressing his distaste for the giant, ugly URL cards.
Now, as we enter 2024, the link previews on X offer more information than just an image and the website name. They now include the article headline or webpage title in a condensed format. However, contrary to Musk’s earlier hint, the headline appears in the bottom left corner as white text against a black background. The team at 9to5Google pointed out that this condensed format may pose readability challenges for longer titles. The default display size truncates headlines that exceed a few words, and this problem becomes even more pronounced on narrower screens.
Currently, the latest update is only available on the web version of X, but it is expected to roll out to the iOS app in the near future. As for Android users, they were fortunate enough to avoid this transition for undisclosed reasons.
Alongside this update, X has also suffered another valuation reduction from its investor, Fidelity. Fidelity, which invested $300 million in X during Musk’s $44 billion buyout in 2022, now believes the platform’s worth has decreased by 71.5% compared to its previous valuation, as revealed in recent SEC filings.
In conclusion, X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has brought back headlines in link previews. This update, which initially only impacted iOS and web users, offers a more compact format for article headlines or webpage titles. However, there have been concerns about readability for longer titles, especially on narrower screens. Stay tuned as X prepares to roll out this update to its iOS app. Meanwhile, Fidelity’s latest valuation reduction highlights the challenges faced by the platform.
