In a recent move, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X, has decided to reinstate news headlines in user posts after removing them nearly three months ago. The initial decision to eliminate headlines was attributed to Elon Musk’s aim to improve the platform’s aesthetics, but it faced criticism from thousands of users who found it challenging to understand the context of news stories without headlines. Musk’s reversal on this decision follows his acknowledgment in late 2023 that the platform would reintroduce headlines by overlaying the title on the image of a URL card. The restored feature allows users to post links with headline text appearing at the bottom left of the image in a small font, providing users with additional context in their news feeds.
The reintroduction of news headlines on X comes after Musk’s unconventional decision to remove them sparked complaints from users who expressed difficulty in comprehending news stories without the accompanying headlines. Initially, Musk claimed that the removal of headlines would enhance the platform’s aesthetics, but the move was met with resistance. The recent change allows users to post links with headline text displayed on the image, addressing the concerns raised by users about the lack of context in their news feeds. Longer headlines, exceeding 75 characters, are truncated with ellipses but expand when users click on the posts for a detailed view.
While the reinstatement of news headlines is a notable change on X, the platform faces broader challenges. According to Fidelity, X has experienced a significant loss in value, dropping by 71% since Elon Musk took over the platform. Fidelity estimates the current value of X at around $12.5 billion, a substantial decrease from the $44 billion Musk spent to acquire Twitter in October 2022, subsequently renaming it X in July 2023. The platform’s declining value is attributed to controversial changes initiated by Musk, leading several major companies to halt their advertising spending on X.
