A Nod to Reddit’s Voting System?

X, formerly Twitter, may be revisiting a feature that had been previously tested in 2021: downvoting posts. The feature, which was similar to the upvoting and downvoting system used on Reddit, could be making a comeback as code references found in the X iOS app suggest.

The Story Behind the Downvote Feature

In 2021, Twitter had experimented with both upvoting and downvoting buttons ahead of Elon Musk’s acquisition of the social network. The feature was tested to gauge user engagement and feedback on posts. However, it seems that X is now considering adding downvotes for replies only to improve how they’re ranked.

The Code References

Reverse engineer Aaron Perris (@aaronp613) first spotted the code references in Tuesday’s iOS app update. Perris regularly uncovers new app features ahead of launch and shared his findings on X with a tweet that included a screenshot of the potential feature:

"It looks like X might be bringing back the downvote button for replies? pic.twitter.com/1s2LzhH7WN"

However, finding code references in an app’s code doesn’t necessarily mean the company is planning to bring the feature to the public. Social media apps and companies often internally test new features before deciding whether to expand a project or scrap it.

X Engineer Weighs In on Downvote Feature

Senior staff machine learning engineer at X, Jay Baxter (@jaybaxter), commented on the potential addition of downvotes. He explained that if you simply added up all the negative signals, you could get a "hivemind like Reddit." However, one way to improve this system would be to only downrank those posts that had negative ratings from people who typically disagree.

Community Notes and Consensus-Building

X’s Community Notes feature relies on private ratings to avoid a "hivemind" effect. The private rating data is released anonymously after 48 hours, making the ratings public without "poisoning the rating process." This consensus-building algorithm could help X highlight better replies in long threads and inspire other companies to use similar tools on their platforms.

Elon Musk’s Response

X owner Elon Musk chimed in on the thread with a one-word comment: "True."

Impact of Downvotes on Social Media Platforms

Using a consensus-building algorithm to rank posts could have significant implications for social media platforms. It could help center what "most people" agree on as the accepted fact, while still citing sources.

Other Changes Coming to X?

Another post from Perris shows a user interface that hides engagement buttons, such as the "Like" and "Repost" buttons, by default in favor of a new gesture-based menu to access these and other actions. This change could simplify the user experience on X and provide more space for users to engage with content.

Conclusion

The potential return of downvotes for posts is an interesting development for X. If implemented correctly, this feature could improve user engagement and provide more accurate feedback on content. As X continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how this feature shapes the social media landscape.

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