Why X Should Reintroduce Stars Instead of Hiding Likes
Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) is set to make “likes” private—a move that risks confusing users and undermining engagement. While the platform claims this change will encourage more authentic interactions, critics argue it may create more problems than it solves. Here’s why reverting to the classic “star” system could be a smarter solution.
The Problem with Private Likes
X’s decision to hide likes is intended to protect users from public scrutiny when engaging with controversial content. However, the implementation is only semi-private:
- Posters can still see who liked their content (leaving room for exposure).
- Like counts remain visible, but others’ likes are hidden.
- Discovery features are lost, as users can no longer browse liked posts on profiles.
This half-measure fails to fully address privacy concerns while stripping away a valuable tool for content discovery.
Bookmarks Aren’t the Answer
X already offers bookmarks—a private way to save posts. By blurring the line between likes and bookmarks, the platform risks:
- User confusion over which feature to use.
- Reduced engagement, as people may default to external tools for saving content.
- Algorithmic challenges, since private likes provide less data for personalization.
The Case for Bringing Back Stars
Before 2015, Twitter used a star icon for favoriting tweets—a neutral action that didn’t imply endorsement. The shift to a heart icon (a “like”) changed user behavior, as hearts carried stronger emotional connotations.
Why Stars Work Better:
- Neutrality: Stars allowed users to save content without signaling agreement.
- Flexibility: They served as bookmarks, acknowledgments, or reminders.
- Algorithm-Friendly: Stars still provide engagement signals without the baggage of “likes.”
Even former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged the misstep:
“‘Like’/❤️ was originally a ⭐️. We should have never moved away from that.”
A Simpler Solution
Instead of hiding likes, X could:
- Replace hearts with stars to decouple engagement from endorsement.
- Offer optional privacy for those who want to hide their activity.
- Preserve discovery features by keeping likes public by default.
This approach would maintain transparency while giving users more control—a win-win for both engagement and privacy.
The Bottom Line
X’s move to private likes feels like a band-aid solution. By reintroducing stars, the platform could resolve the core issue—separating saving content from endorsing it—without sacrificing usability or algorithmic insights. Sometimes, the best way forward is to look back.
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