Aesthetic Improvement Leads to Scrapping of Article Headlines on X
Elon Musk continues to make controversial changes to X, with his most recent alteration involving the removal of article headlines on the platform. This decision, which Musk first mentioned in August, aims to enhance the visual appeal of X.
Visual Transformations on X: A New Look for Articles
Previously, articles posted on X would display a headline, but now they appear as an image with the outlet's name displayed in the bottom-left corner. This change has already been implemented for mobile users as well.
Musk's decision to eliminate article headlines came directly from him and was motivated by the desire to improve the platform's aesthetics. However, not all X users are in favor of this change.
User Discontent and Confusion
Joseph Politano, an economics writer, voiced his frustration, describing the alteration as "incredibly annoying" and criticizing it as a foolish decision that further alienates journalists. Additionally, another X user questioned the value of displaying article links without sufficient context, as random images can be confusing and do not provide the necessary information.
Other users joined the conversation, stating that this modification makes articles on X resemble memes rather than serious news content.
A Series of Unusual Changes: Elon Musk's Impact on the Platform
Musk's removal of article headlines is just one of the many strange modifications he has implemented on X. One of the more peculiar changes was a temporary limit on the number of posts that users could view daily, which resulted in significant backlash from the platform's users.
Similarly peculiar was Musk's suggestion of implementing a paywall for the entire site as a means to combat bots. During a conversation with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk explained that a payment system and prioritizing posts from premium users would reduce the influence of bots. While he did not provide specific details, Musk mentioned that X would charge a nominal fee for this service.
In addition to these changes, Musk has also revamped Twitter's verification system and introduced a new subscription service on X.
Unfortunately, representatives from X have not yet responded to Insider's request for comment, which was made outside regular working hours.
In conclusion, Musk's elimination of article headlines is yet another unusual modification to the X platform. While it aims to enhance aesthetics, some users have voiced their discontent and questioned the value of the change. Musk's various alterations to X have sparked both fascination and criticism, making it clear that he is determined to reshape the platform according to his own vision.—————————————————————————————————————————————
By: bnolan@insider.com (Beatrice Nolan)
Title: Elon Musk Removes Article Headlines in Latest X Update
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-bizarre-change-x-twitter-ditch-article-headlines-2023-10
Published Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:37:40 +0000
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