X Social Network Rumored to Bring Back Downvote Feature for Replies
X, formerly known as Twitter, may be reintroducing a downvote feature for posts, as hinted at by code references found in the X iOS app. This feature was previously tested in 2021 before Elon Musk acquired the social network. The original experiment included both upvoting and downvoting buttons, similar to Reddit’s voting system. Now, the focus seems to be on adding downvotes for replies to enhance their ranking.
The discovery was made by reverse engineer Aaron Perris, who shared the code references found in a recent iOS app update. While findings in app code don’t guarantee a public release, X engineers, including owner Elon Musk, have commented on the potential addition.
One X engineer, Jay Baxter, explained that leveraging negative signals for ranking could mirror X’s crowdsourced fact-checking feature, Community Notes. By downranking posts based on negative ratings from users who typically disagree, the platform aims to create a system that fosters diverse opinions without forming a hivemind mentality.
Community Notes wouldn’t work well without negative rating signal. But you have to be smart about how you use them. If you naively add them all up, you’ll get a hivemind like Reddit. One way: only downrank if you see negative ratings from people who typically disagree https://t.co/YfX7Fpm8ka
— Jay Baxter (@_jaybaxter_) July 2, 2024
Baxter hinted that X’s approach could serve as a model for ranking replies and shaping discussions more effectively. This consensus-building algorithm might prompt other platforms to adopt similar tools for community moderation. YouTube, for example, has already experimented with its own version of X’s Community Notes called Notes.
Meanwhile, other social startups are exploring innovative moderation strategies. Bluesky, for instance, is testing composable moderation, allowing users to subscribe to customizable moderation services. This approach gives users more control over the platform’s content curation.
Aside from downvotes, X may also introduce a new user interface that hides engagement buttons like “Like” and “Repost” by default, opting for a gesture-based menu to access these features. These potential changes could reshape how user interactions are managed on the platform.