X Considers Adding Downvote Feature for Replies

X, formerly known as Twitter, is exploring the possibility of reintroducing a downvote feature for replies, a concept it initially tested in 2021 prior to Elon Musk’s acquisition.

Unlike the previous experiment, which included both upvoting and downvoting akin to Reddit’s system, the current consideration is focused solely on downvoting to enhance reply ranking.

The potential feature was uncovered by reverse engineer Aaron Perris (@aaronp613 on X) in the latest iOS app update. Perris, known for identifying new app features ahead of official announcements, shared his findings with TechCrunch.

It’s important to note that discovering code references for new features doesn’t guarantee their public release. Companies, especially social media platforms, frequently test new functionalities internally before deciding whether to proceed with a broader rollout.

However, this particular feature has garnered attention from both an X engineer and Elon Musk. Jay Baxter, a senior staff machine learning engineer at X who works on Community Notes, commented on the potential utility of a negative signal. He suggested that leveraging negative feedback could improve the ranking system, drawing parallels to the consensus-based approach used in X’s Community Notes.

This system requires agreement among typically disagreeing users before fact-checks are published, aiming to avoid the “hivemind” effect seen on Reddit.

While Baxter did not confirm that downvotes are actively being developed, he mentioned that Community Notes uses private ratings to prevent bias, releasing the data anonymously after 48 hours. Musk’s brief endorsement of the idea with a single word, “True,” adds weight to the speculation.

Incorporating a consensus-driven algorithm to rank replies could enhance the quality of discourse on X, potentially influencing other platforms to adopt similar strategies.

X’s Community Notes feature has already inspired YouTube to trial a similar function called Notes, which relies on user consensus to verify facts.

Other social media startups are also exploring innovative moderation techniques. For example, Bluesky is experimenting with composable moderation, allowing users to subscribe to various moderation services to customize their experience.

In addition to the downvote feature, X is reportedly testing a new user interface that hides engagement buttons like “Like” and “Repost” by default, replacing them with a gesture-based menu for accessing these actions.

This development, also identified by Perris, suggests that X is actively seeking ways to refine user interaction on its platform.

As X continues to innovate and refine its features, the potential addition of downvotes for replies underscores the platform’s commitment to improving user experience and fostering meaningful engagement.