Elon Musk's X Platform Developing 'Dislike' Button for Downvoting Replies

What to know

X (formerly Twitter) is developing a ‘dislike’ button for downvoting replies, featuring a broken heart icon alongside the existing like button.
The feature aims to improve reply ranking and user experience, potentially helping to elevate meaningful responses and demote less popular ones.
Code references and testing phases have been spotted in X’s iOS app, suggesting the feature’s public release may be approaching.

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is reportedly in the process of developing a new ‘dislike’ button that will allow users to downvote replies. This feature, which has been spotted in various stages of testing, is aimed at improving the ranking of replies and potentially enhancing the overall user experience on the platform.

Recent discoveries in the X iOS app have revealed code references to a “downvote” feature, including a broken heart icon that appears alongside the existing heart-shaped “like” button. This suggests that the new function may resemble a “dislike” button rather than a typical Reddit-style downvote icon.

The concept of downvoting is not entirely new to the platform. In 2021, before Elon Musk’s acquisition, Twitter experimented with both upvoting and downvoting features. However, the current iteration seems to focus specifically on downvoting replies, which could help elevate more meaningful responses while demoting less popular ones.

Reverse engineer Aaron Perris (@aaronp613 on X) identified references to the downvote feature in X’s iOS app, including image files depicting a broken heart icon. Additional text strings prompt users to confirm their downvotes with phrases like “Do you want to downvote this post?” and “Downvote this post”.

While the feature is currently being tested only on replies, there is speculation that it might eventually apply to all posts on the platform. An X employee reportedly showcased the dislike button in a video demo, which was quickly deleted and reposted without the button visible, further fueling anticipation for the feature’s public release.

The introduction of a dislike button could have significant implications for user interaction on X. It may help discourage posts intended to provoke negative reactions for engagement and could provide users with a more nuanced way to express their opinions on content.

This development is part of a series of changes implemented under Musk’s ownership of X. The platform has already made notable alterations to its “likes” system, including hiding likes from public view to encourage users to engage with more controversial content without concerns about their public image.

As of now, X has not made an official announcement regarding the release date or full functionality of the dislike button. However, the increasing number of sightings and references in the app’s code suggest that public tests of this feature may be imminent.

The introduction of a dislike button on X could potentially reshape how users interact with content on the platform, offering a new dimension to the way replies are ranked and displayed. As the feature continues to develop, users and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see how it impacts the dynamics of conversations on one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.