Tech Desk 
Jun 12, 2024
X, formerly known as Twitter, is rolling out a new feature that will hide likes on timelines for the users. This update aims to protect the users' public image and encourage them to like posts without fear of judgment.
The private likes feature will hide what the social media app users like on the platform, making it a more private and secure space for users. The Likes tab will be removed from the user profiles, but still the users will be able to see who liked their posts including the like count for all posts.
According to to the X’s owner Elon Musk this change is meant to protect users' public image and make them feel more comfortable and secure when liking posts.
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However, rollout of this feature is expected to happen as soon as today, according to some rumours surfacing around. Musk has expressed support for the change, saying it’s "important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!"
Moreover, X's director of engineering, Haofei Wang, explained that the upcoming feature is meant to encourage users to like "edgy" content without fear of judgment. The platform wants to become a safe space for the users to engage with content without worrying about their public image on social media.
This significant move marks how social media platforms approach engagement. By hiding likes, X is placing user privacy and safety over the traditional metric of engagement. This change might prompt other social media platforms to follow suit and rethink their approach to engagement and privacy policises in a similar manner.
