Elon Musk ponders removing likes and repost counts on X. Elon Musk, the visionary leader behind the social media platform X, announced on Wednesday that the company is contemplating a significant change: the potential elimination of likes and repost counts on posts.
Musk made this revelation during his participation in the esteemed Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference.
The proposed move, as explained by the billionaire entrepreneur, is geared towards enriching the user experience of the social media platform.
It is part of Musk’s broader vision for X, which aims to transcend traditional social media functionalities and evolve into an all-encompassing ‘everything app,’ integrating features ranging from messaging to banking and shopping.
Also read: Apple and Disney pause ads on X after Elon Musk’s antisemitic post
During the conference, Musk also provided insights into X’s forthcoming plans, indicating that the platform is on the brink of securing a money transmitter license in New York.
This regulatory milestone, anticipated to be approved in the coming months, holds significant importance for X’s ambitions of incorporating financial functionalities, including peer-to-peer payment capabilities.
The decision to potentially remove engagement metrics like ‘likes’ and ‘reposts’ comes amid ongoing debates surrounding these metrics since Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
Reports have previously surfaced suggesting Musk’s involvement in directing algorithm adjustments to amplify the visibility of his own posts, possibly driven by perceived competition with prominent figures like President Joe Biden.
Musk’s announcement coincides with a recent legal triumph for X, formerly known as Twitter, as the platform emerged victorious in a $250 million copyright lawsuit filed by 17 music publishers.
The lawsuit alleged copyright infringement relating to nearly 1,700 songs. However, a US District Judge largely dismissed the claims, ruling that the publishers could not pursue a theory of “comprehensive general liability for infringement” against X.
As Elon Musk ponders removing likes and repost counts on X, the proposed changes and legal victories collectively underscore a significant transformation for X under Musk‘s leadership, as it endeavors to redefine itself beyond the confines of a conventional social media platform and venture into new realms such as finance and commerce.
