X to adjust algorithm to prioritise mutual follows and curb ‘battleground’ replies
The social media giant is rolling out a tweak to boost visibility for reciprocal follows, aligning with broader industry shifts toward community-focused engagement seen on Threads and Bluesky.
X has announced an algorithm adjustment designed to increase the visibility of posts from mutual followers, aiming to reduce the prominence of arguments between strangers. Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, admitted in a post on Monday that the previous algorithm was missing data regarding reciprocal follows. This omission contributed to reply sections feeling like a battleground, as friends appeared less frequently in conversations while interactions with unknown users were amplified.
The update, described by Bier as a small tweak, will boost the visibility of users’ posts to their mutuals. Bier stated that the platform noticed this data was missing from the algorithm, which resulted in a user experience dominated by random arguments rather than community interaction. The change is intended to help clusters form around interests more easily, addressing long-standing user requests for a more cohesive social environment.
This move aligns with recent shifts on competing platforms, which are increasingly emphasising community-driven growth over open public feeds. Meta’s Threads recently announced it had surpassed 500 million monthly active users, attributing this growth to communities forming around specific conversations ranging from books to parenting. Similarly, Bluesky leadership, including COO Rose Wang and CEO Toni Schneider, has publicly discussed a strategic shift away from a town square model towards creating smaller, private communities.
The algorithmic adjustment follows other recent statements from Bier regarding content strategy. Last week, he noted that users posting original content would climb faster in visibility, after admitting that top accounts had been posting stolen, recycled content. The platform previously ended its Community feature in May, shifting users to large group chats, though Bier stated X would continue investing heavily in niche communities and custom timelines.
While the tweak aims to enhance community sense, the source material does not explain how or why the data about reciprocal follows went missing from the algorithm in the first place. It remains unclear how the change will be technically implemented or measured for success, nor is the long-term impact on user engagement specified. The update represents a significant pivot for X, mirroring industry trends that prioritise interest-based clusters over the controversial, stranger-driven interactions that have characterised the platform in recent years.
