Musk makes X/Twitter worse by stripping headlines from links
Musk axes headlines on X to decrease the priority of news on the platform
This week, Elon Musk has enacted a change on the X (formerly Twitter) platform that strips the headlines from articles that are posted on the platform. Musk has confirmed that the change is “coming from me directly”, stating that move will “greatly improve the aesthetics” of the platform. In reality, the change is discrediting X as a news source. It has also made it less clear to users what is an article and what is an image.
Previously, X posts with links would show a thumbnail, a headline, and a domain name for linked content. Now, posts lack headlines and instead only showcase a thumbnail and a domain name. This change gives users no information about where a link leads to, as posters can simply post anything they want alongside their links. This change makes it more likely for posters to use clickbait headlines, or outright false ones.
Musk’s change draws attention away from links on the X platform. If users don’t see or click on links, the will stay on X longer, and potentially see more ads. Some Musk fans have also claimed that this will lead to a decrease in clickbait headlines, but the opposite is true.
This is coming from me directly. Will greatly improve the esthetics.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 22, 2023
X Trolls
X users have quickly showcased the flaw in Musk’s changes to the platform by accompanying article links with false headlines. Now, X users can say anything to get users to click on their links. This not only leads to the creation of false headlines, but could result in an increase in spam on the platform.
I see that Space Karen’s genius idea to remove headlines from links to news articles is working out well. pic.twitter.com/W7dHnl6qj1
— Λ L B E Я T Ө ³ (@Alberto_Aveiro) October 5, 2023
As the platforms owner, Elon Musk wants users to spend as much time on X as possible. One way of achieving this is by making user less likely to click links that move users away from X. This change makes X a less useful platform for news organisations, or any anyone that seeks web traffic from the X platform. Musk wants X to become a home for long-form content, but like Musk’s other changes, his changes to headlines is driving users away from X.
You can join the discussion on Musk deleting news headlines from X/Twitter posts on the OC3D Forums.
