Elon Musk confirms X will start hiding likes for users

Many of Elon Musk’s decisions for X have been controversial ever since he took the helm.

Formerly Twitter, the site has undergone a new design, new name and a complete overhaul of the verification process.

Since taking the reins, the billionaire has faced his own string of controversies too including around his treatment of staff and mass job cuts at the company.

Now, the latest update to the website is the rolling out of private likes, a feature that is already available to paying users.

This means that for the first time, users will be able to hide which posts they have liked on X as they will now be hidden by default.

This will be music to the ears of many who have gotten into hot water with the types of posts they have liked in the past.

Soon, users will be able to like content without worrying about who could see it.

Writing about the update on X, Musk said: “Important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so!”

In the past, public figures have issued apologies when their like history on X has come to light.

Last year, Take That singer Howard Donald was dropped from appearing at a Pride event after offensive and transphobic tweets that he had liked surfaced.

On Instagram, Donald issued an apology, saying he made “a huge error in judgement” and that he was “really disappointed” in himself.

This new feature for X will mean that blunders like this won’t happen, which some users have applauded.

Internet personality, Oli London, replied to Musk’s announcement, saying: “Great new feature Elon. Will definitely help users feel more comfortable liking posts that they agree with.”

Another fan of the update added: “Good move. It’s a step toward providing people with more privacy. If people want to share what they like, they can repost the content.”

However, other X users are unhappy with the change, arguing that it will lead to less accountability.

Taking to Reddit to share their opinions, one commenter said: “I absolutely hate the reasoning for this. This change is such a nothing burger but the reasoning just rubs me the wrong way.”

Another person added: “Makes it harder to expose hypocrites, like those who accuse others of being p****, but then get caught with sus things in their likes.”

One user had their own theory while Musk was making the change, joking: “Elon probably got caught liking cringe on main.”

It looks like private likes will be rolled out as quick as today.