General NewsNews mediaTechnologyX Corp. X Eliminates Display of Article Headlines in Recent Update, Exacerbating Tensions with News Media by Gabriel Martinez October 5, 2023 written by Gabriel Martinez October 5, 2023 10 comments Bookmark 65 X, previously recognized as Twitter, has recently updated its platform to cease the presentation of article headlines when such articles are shared. Instead, only the leading image and a direct link to the article are displayed. The modifications were initially disclosed in an August report by Fortune, during which Elon Musk, the owner of X, acknowledged through a public statement that the alteration originated directly from him and would “significantly enhance the visual appeal” of posts on the platform. Articles that are linked now manifest solely as an image, with text displayed in the left-hand corner indicating the website domain of the article. To access the complete article, users are required to click on the image, a feature that could potentially generate confusion. Recent criticisms against Musk’s platform have been numerous and include a statement by a senior European Union official accusing X of harboring “the highest rate of false or misleading information.” Additionally, the Anti-Defamation League, a well-known Jewish civil rights group, has condemned Musk for permitting the dissemination of antisemitism and hate speech on the platform. This most recent move by Musk further widens the existing gap between X and news agencies that have historically relied on the platform to expand their readership. One of Musk’s more contentious decisions was the complete overhaul of the site’s user verification system. Previously under Twitter’s original administration, journalists, irrespective of the size of their publication, were eligible for a blue verification checkmark, thereby authenticating their identity. This system was extended to celebrities and other notable public figures. However, Musk disrupted this practice by terminating the verification process altogether, subsequently allowing anyone to acquire a blue checkmark by simply subscribing to a monthly fee—absent of any identity verification. Further, Musk has essentially dismantled the team responsible for content moderation on the platform. He has also intermittently suspended journalist accounts and seems to have restricted or reduced access to links leading to major media outlets such as The New York Times. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Platform UpdateWhat changes did X make in its latest platform update?Who confirmed the changes and what was the purported reason?How do linked articles appear now on X?Has X received any recent criticisms?How has X’s relationship with news organizations changed?What alterations were made to X’s user verification system?Has there been any change in content moderation on X?More about Platform Update Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Platform Update What changes did X make in its latest platform update? In its most recent update, X, formerly known as Twitter, has removed the display of article headlines when articles are shared on the platform. Now, only the lead image and a direct link to the article are shown. Who confirmed the changes and what was the purported reason? Elon Musk, the owner of X, confirmed the changes. He stated that the update, which originated directly from him, aims to “significantly enhance the visual appeal” of posts on the platform. How do linked articles appear now on X? Linked articles are now displayed solely as a leading image with a text in the left-hand corner indicating the domain of the linked article. To read the full article, users must click on this image. Has X received any recent criticisms? Yes, X has been the subject of recent criticisms, including from a senior European Union official who accused the platform of having “the highest rate of false or misleading information.” The Anti-Defamation League has also accused Elon Musk of allowing the spread of antisemitism and hate speech on the platform. How has X’s relationship with news organizations changed? The latest changes further exacerbate existing tensions between X and news organizations. These agencies have historically used the platform to expand their audiences, and the changes have been perceived as detrimental to this symbiotic relationship. What alterations were made to X’s user verification system? Under Elon Musk’s ownership, X overhauled its user verification system. Previously, journalists and public figures could receive a blue verification checkmark, authenticating their identity. Musk terminated this practice, allowing anyone to acquire a blue checkmark by subscribing to a monthly fee, without identity verification. Has there been any change in content moderation on X? Yes, Elon Musk has dismantled the team that was responsible for content moderation on the platform. He has also temporarily suspended accounts of journalists and appears to have restricted or reduced access to links from major media outlets like The New York Times. More about Platform Update Fortune Report on X’s Latest Update European Union Official’s Statement on X Anti-Defamation League’s Criticism of X Changes to X’s User Verification Process Content Moderation Changes at X Impact on News Organizations You Might Be Interested In Renowned Composer Kaija Saariaho Passes Away at 70 After Battle with Brain Tumor President Biden Criticizes Israeli Settlers’ Reprisals Against Palestinians in West Bank Taliban slam ‘baseless and biased’ UN report suggesting rifts and conflict within their ranks Tom Holland describes ‘The Crowded Room’ as his ‘hardest’ and ‘most rewarding’ job so far Host Charged with Murder Using Poisonous Mushrooms at Australian Luncheon US Military Reports: Helicopter Incident in Northern Syria Injures 22 Troops Elon MuskGeneral NewsMedia RelationsNews mediaUser VerificationX Corp. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Gabriel Martinez Follow Author Gabriel Martinez is a science and technology journalist who covers the latest news and developments in the world of science. He is passionate about exploring new frontiers in technology, from artificial intelligence to space exploration. previous post Putin Announces Discovery of Hand Grenade Shrapnel in Victims of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Plane Crash next post Donald Trump’s Legal Team Seeks Dismissal of DC Federal Election Subversion Case, Citing Presidential Immunity You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 10 comments FreeSpeechFred October 5, 2023 - 9:19 pm What’s up with killing off the moderation team? Are we just letting anything fly now? Seems risky. Reply PolicyNerd October 5, 2023 - 11:00 pm EU’s already on them for misinformation and now this? Does X even care about being a reliable platform anymore? Reply OldSchoolOllie October 5, 2023 - 11:43 pm Back in my day, we read newspapers and we knew what we were getting into. This just adds more confusion. Reply SarahM October 6, 2023 - 12:19 am Whoa, didn’t see this coming from X. Changing the whole headline thing is huge. how are people gonna know what they’re clicking? Reply VerifiedVic October 6, 2023 - 12:46 am So I paid for that blue checkmark and now it means nothing? Musk’s really messing with the platform’s integrity. Reply TechGuru89 October 6, 2023 - 12:51 am Man, I get that Musk wants to ‘improve aesthetics,’ but this seems like a bad move. Where’s the real content? Reply CasualCarl October 6, 2023 - 1:39 am Honestly don’t get why they’d remove headlines. I mean whats the point? Just to make it look pretty? Reply GreenTechie October 6, 2023 - 5:03 am First he tries to colonize Mars and now he’s changing how we consume news? Musk really needs to stick to one planet at a time. Reply CryptoQueen October 6, 2023 - 7:18 am If X wants to remain relevant they gotta think these changes through. This feels so rushed and poorly planned. Reply JournalistJane October 6, 2023 - 3:08 pm Great, as if it wasn’t already hard enough for journos to get traffic. Now nobody knows what they’re clicking. thanks a lot, Musk. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ