Elon Musk’s X Plans Innovative News Link Display, Shifting Focus from Headlines
- ByStartupStory | August 23, 2023
Elon Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter, is planning to roll out a new way to display news links without any headline or description. The social network will display just the link and the header image in a post, according to a report.
Musk confirmed the move in a post on Monday and said it was coming “directly” from him. The change would “greatly improve the aesthetics,” he said.
Elon Musk’s company X, formerly known as Twitter, is reportedly preparing to introduce a novel approach to displaying news links on its platform. Instead of showing headlines or descriptions alongside the links, the platform will exhibit only the link itself and the header image in a post. Musk confirmed this change in a recent post, asserting that it stems directly from him and will significantly enhance the visual appeal of posts.
At present, when a news article or blog post is shared on Twitter, a preview card accompanies it, showcasing the headline, a summary text (only visible on the web), and the header image. However, under the proposed alteration, X will display solely the image and link in a post. Consequently, if a publication or blog opts not to include additional text with the link, users will only encounter the link and its associated image.
A source told Fortune that the update aims to reduce the height of a post to fit more posts on one screen. They also said that Musk thinks that removing headlines from the preview card will reduce clickbait. However, with no preview card, publications or blogs can simply write any text inciting users to click on the link.
Incidentally, Musk also recently said journalists vying for more freedom and higher income should directly publish on X.
This statement followed a legal development where the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency filed a lawsuit against X in France, alleging a refusal to engage in discussions regarding the sharing of remuneration for news content on the platform. While the outcome of AFP’s copyright challenge against X under France’s neighboring rights for news remains uncertain, the platform appears to be adopting a less news-friendly stance, possibly not by accident.
Additionally, X recently encountered a bug that disrupted links and images posted using the platform’s native service prior to December 2014. The company acknowledged this glitch through its support account on the platform and assured users that a resolution was underway and would be implemented in the coming days.
Meanwhile, X is in the process of replacing its user-blocking functionality with an updated mute feature. This feature will essentially allow users to follow others without granting them the ability to interact.
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