Elon Musk, best known for his eccentric persona, has been involved in various sectors, ranging from electric vehicles to space exploration. With his recent acquisition of Twitter, now renamed "X," changes to the platform's UI are expected. A recent revelation suggests that X is about to undergo a significant UI change, moving away from conventional engagement metrics in favor of a cleaner timeline.
In a post to the platform, Musk announced that X would be getting rid of both the like and retweet buttons from its main timeline. Instead, the only metric users will initially see on a post will be its view count. But before any purists cry foul, it's worth noting that this will only be the case until a user clicks on a particular post. Then, the familiar metrics will pop out.
Why this change? The primary rationale, according to Musk, is to "improve readability." At a glance, this streamlines the user interface and reduces cognitive overload, letting content speak for itself. But there's more to this redesign than just hiding a couple of buttons.
According to X employee Andrea Conway, the design team is now working on a more gestural interaction approach for the platform. This means that while the buttons might be gone, their functionality won't be. Users might soon find themselves double-tapping a post to "like" it or swiping to engage in a reply. Essentially, X aims to hide the clutter but retain the engagement mechanics users have become accustomed to.
Musk's decision to alter the interface of X is a testament to his desire to constantly reinvent and improve. While these changes are currently in the pipeline, there's no definitive word on when they will be rolled out. Furthermore, as with all things tech and design, these "current" plans are subject to change based on testing, feedback, and further innovation.
In essence, X's move away from visible engagement buttons could mark a shift in how we interact with social media platforms. Only time will tell if users will embrace this change with open arms.