Elon Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter, is planning a significant change in how news links are displayed on the platform. According to a report by Fortune, X will soon roll out a new way to display news links without any headline or description. Instead, users will only see the link and the header image in a post.
Confirmation from Elon Musk
Musk confirmed the move in a post on Monday, stating that it was coming "directly" from him. He added that the change would "greatly improve the aesthetics." This new approach has sparked interest among users, with many wondering what prompted X to make this decision.
"This is coming from me directly. Will greatly improve the esthetics."
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk), August 22, 2023
Current Display of News Links
Currently, a Twitter card for a news article or blog post shows the headline and summary text (just on the web) along with the header image in the preview card of a post. However, if the proposed change comes through, X will only show the image with a link in a post. This means that if a publication or blog doesn’t post any accompanying text with the link, users will only see the link and the image for that article.
Reason Behind the Change
A source told Fortune that the update aims to reduce the height of a post to fit more posts on one screen. They also mentioned that Musk thinks removing headlines from the preview card will reduce clickbait. However, with no preview card, publications or blogs can simply write any text inciting users to click on the link.
Impact on Journalism
Musk has previously expressed his views on journalism, stating that journalists vying for more freedom and higher income should directly publish on X. This new approach may be seen as a way to support this vision, but it remains to be seen how it will affect the industry.
"If you’re a journalist who wants more freedom to write and a higher income, then publish directly on this platform!"
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk), August 21, 2023
Recent Developments
Earlier this month, The Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency sued X in France over a "clear refusal" to discuss remuneration sharing of its news content on the platform. While it remains to be seen whether AFP will prevail in its copyright law challenge to X under France’s neighboring right for news, the social network does appear to be becoming less friendly toward displaying news links — which may not be an accident.
X’s Changes
Over the weekend, a bug on X broke links and images posted using the platform’s native service before December 2014. The company later acknowledged the glitch through its support account on the platform and said the issue would be fully resolved in the coming days. Additionally, X is in the process of replacing the functionality of blocking users with a revamped mute feature that will essentially let users follow someone without the ability to interact with them.
Conclusion
X’s new approach to displaying news links may have both positive and negative effects on the platform. While it aims to reduce clickbait and improve aesthetics, it also raises concerns about the lack of transparency and potential misrepresentation of content. As X continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this change affects users, publications, and the journalism industry as a whole.
Timeline
- August 22, 2023: Elon Musk confirms the new approach to displaying news links on X.
- Earlier this month: The Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency sued X in France over remuneration sharing of its news content on the platform.
- Over the weekend: A bug on X broke links and images posted using the platform’s native service before December 2014.
