If you're an X premium member, you can now hide your "likes" from being publicly visible by adjusting your settings.
(Photo : CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
This photo illustration shows the X logo (formerly Twitter) on a smartphone screen in Los Angeles, California, on July 31, 2023. San Francisco sent the company formerly known as Twitter a warning on July 31, 2023, that it needed proper permits for the giant, flashing new X sign atop its headquarters, after the tech firm twice refused to let building inspectors check it.
X Hiding 'Likes' Tab
X has introduced a feature for its premium subscribers, allowing them to conceal their likes tab from the public. With this feature enabled, the "likes" tab will be entirely hidden from view on their profile.
Users can activate this option by adjusting their preferences during the early access period. According to Engadget, this is part of X's ongoing efforts to attract more paying subscribers.
It is a way for people who pay for premium membership, which costs as little as $8 per month or $84 per year, to keep their "likes" private. Plus, premium members get early access to new features and the coveted blue checkmark.
X is doing this because its advertising revenue in the US has dropped significantly, so they're looking for ways to make its premium service more appealing.
In the past, X owner Elon Musk has expressed his desire to keep "likes" private. For regular users, there's a bookmark feature that can serve a similar purpose if they want to save things discreetly. However, it appears that "likes" for Premium users won't be hidden entirely.
A screenshot shared on X's official account shows that Premium users' "likes" will still be visible on individual posts. It remains unclear what would occur if a user decides to stop their X Premium subscription, but it is possible that the "likes" tab may reappear in that scenario.
Read Also: FTC Looks into Musk's Role in X's Data Privacy, Security
Looking Back to Multiple Instances
Over the years, The Verge reported that there have been numerous instances where Twitter "likes" have caused embarrassment for well-known individuals, many of whom appeared unaware that their "likes" were visible to the public.
In 2017, Senator Ted Cruz's official account liked an explicit video, with Cruz attributing it to a staffer's accidental click. Pop sensation Harry Styles also found himself in a similar situation in 2014, when he later unliked the content and liked multiple animal pictures instead.
TechCrunch also reported that Elon Musk's likes on X are still there for everyone to see. In a recent post on X, he said letting others see what you like is a good idea. He also suggested using the bookmarks feature to save posts you find interesting.
If you look at Musk's recent likes, you will find posts from fans who really like him, with quotes and pictures. He also liked some funny memes. One of his likes was from an account called "End Wokeness," showing that he has a variety of interests.
Related Article: X Agrees to Talk to More Than 2,000 Fired Employees After Elon Musk's Purge-Compensation Coming?
