Elon Musk declared on Thursday that he plans to eliminate likes and repost counts from users’ feeds, opting instead for “view counts” to be displayed on their timelines. The decision received criticism from many users, who labeled it “excessively stupid” and warned it would “greatly reduce engagement”.
Musk’s Decision Sparks Backlash
The announcement came after the popular DogeDesigner handle hinted at the change, stating that likes and repost counts might be removed from feeds but would still be visible when tapping into a post. Musk confirmed the decision, asserting that “just view count, as a proxy for the other metrics, will show on the timeline.”
User Reactions and Suggestions
However, Musk’s decision faced strong opposition from users. One user argued that removing like counts would decrease engagement, as people are more likely to interact with posts that have a significant number of likes. Another user labeled the move as “excessively stupid” and warned that it would have a negative impact without achieving any positive outcomes. Some suggested adding a “dislike button” instead.
Upcoming Feature: Pinned Posts
In addition to the controversy surrounding social media metrics, Musk also announced a new feature that will allow users to pin posts for their followers to see. The feature will permit one pinned post every 48 hours, with Musk assuring users that changes to the recommendation algorithm will ensure all followers see the pinned posts.
