How Elon Musk's X is tackling the bot menace
What's the story
X, the social media platform, has started rolling out a new feature called "About this account." The update will show information about the user profile such as location, number of times the username has been changed, original joining date, and how they downloaded the X app. The move is aimed at reducing inauthentic engagement on the platform where bots often impersonate real users.
User verification
Feature aims to enhance user trust
The "About this account" feature was first announced in October by Nikita Bier, X's head of product. He said the company would test displaying this information on profiles starting with his own and those of X employees. The idea is that by exposing these details, users can better determine if they're interacting with an authentic account or a bot trying to spread misinformation.
User guide
How to access 'About this account' feature
To view their account information on the web or in the X mobile app, users need to click on the "Joined" date on their profile. This takes them to a page showing when they joined X, where their account is based, how many times they've changed their username and when was the last time it was changed, as well as how they're connected to X - via App Store or Google Play.
Customization options
User customization and potential future upgrades
X allows users to customize whether the feature shows their country or just their geographical region. This was initially promised in regions where free speech could be penalized, but now even US users can choose between displaying their country or region/continent. The platform is also said to be working on a feature that would warn users if they're using a VPN to mask their location.