The platform formerly known as Twitter, now referred to as X, has started removing headlines and snippets from links shared on its site. Elon Musk, the website owner, said this would “greatly improve the platform’s aesthetics.” However, the change has not been uniformly embraced, with advertisers voicing their disapproval when previewed with the new look.
This might be a good way to improve the platform’s look, or there might be something bigger
The aim behind the format switch, according to X, is to make posts look more streamlined by allowing more of them to fit on your screen at one time. Another stated aim is to counter clickbait—a problem that has plagued the site for years. Headlines that sensationalize content could soon be a thing of the past.
While these reasons might seem straightforward, there’s a deeper narrative. Musk has long been advocating for long-form content to be posted directly on X. Under his tenure, Blue subscribers now enjoy a character limit of 25,000, and Musk has often tweeted urging journalists to “publish directly” on the platform. Recently, he even pushed for “more citizen journalism” on X, adding that live videos could be easily done from phones.
So is this just an aesthetic revamp, or is Musk subtly steering the ship towards a more controlled narrative, where news is not just skimmed but deeply engaged with? The change could certainly benefit those who prefer in-depth reading over headline grazing, but it also raises questions about how this might affect public discourse and the diversity of voices on the platform.
Only time will tell if this format change will become a win-win for all or if it’s an attempt to centralize the flow of information on X. Either way, the platform is changing, and how we engage with it might never be the same again.
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(Via)
