Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now called X) made a lot of headlines last year. Soon after the deal was sealed, Musk took charge of the micro-blogging website and started making various changes to it. Earlier this year, X launched the ability to make video and audio calls on the platform, while also introducing its own cryptocurrency – STEEM.
The X team has announced that it will reintroduce headlines in preview cards on the site. The company previously removed titles in URL previews for “improved aesthetics,” requiring users to click on the card to see the title. In a new post on X, Musk shared that an upcoming update will overlay the title in the upper portion of the image within a URL card. No specific timeline was given for the feature’s implementation.
Similarly, the new update will restore headlines for news and article links. Previously, the social media platform displayed only a summary of the news or article in the preview card, leaving users to click the link to read more. Now, the news and article title will also appear in the image on the URL card.
The social media giant will also reintroduce the “community notes” feature, which allows other Twitter users to add context or correct information to a tweet. However, X has added a new restriction to this system – users who get their posts amended by the community notes program will no longer be able to monetise them on the platform.
Twitter is still a popular platform to broadcast opinions, news and other information, but it has struggled in recent times to maintain user engagement and to find ways to monetize its content. The platform is trying to increase revenue by launching new features, including an app that lets users broadcast live videos and create custom avatars. It has also introduced a new premium subscription plan that offers users more features and removes ads.
In addition to the new features, X has also been testing a $1 annual subscription for users in New Zealand and the Philippines. This new tier is designed to combat spam and bot activity on the platform, ensuring users can access free content.
Despite these moves, it has been a tumultuous few weeks for X as significant advertisers such as Apple and Disney have halted spending on the platform over Musk’s endorsement of antisemitic remarks. Additionally, the company has been in the midst of legal disputes, including one in which Musk sued Media Matters for defamation. All these events have weighed heavily on the public perception of X and its efforts to regain user trust. Nevertheless, the CEO remains committed to enhancing X’s offerings and keeping its users happy.
