Twitter’s Controversial Change: Sorting Posts by Likes Instead of Chronological Order

The popular social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, has recently implemented a new method of sorting posts. When users are logged out, posts, which were previously called tweets, are now arranged based on like counts rather than the order in which they were posted. This unexpected change has caught the attention of users and experts, sparking a debate about the impact it may have on the user experience.

A Surprising Discovery by 9to5Google

The discovery of this sorting change was first made by 9to5Google, who noticed the difference when browsing the platform without being logged in. Previously, posts on profiles were displayed in chronological order regardless of whether the user was logged in or out. However, this new sorting method significantly alters the visibility and prominence of posts without any user interaction.

Posts Sorted Based on Likes, Not Views

One of the most unusual aspects of this change is that posts are now being sorted based on likes instead of views. This means that even if a post has a higher view count, it may still be displayed lower in the feed if it has fewer likes. Consequently, recent and new posts are being overshadowed and buried by older, more popular ones.

The Impact on Pinned Posts

Another consequence of this change is the diminished importance of pinned posts. Even if a user has a specific post pinned to the top of their profile feed, it will not appear as the first post when someone is logged out. This undermines the purpose of pinning a post and reduces the ability to showcase important or timely content.

The Motivation Behind the Change

The exact reasoning behind Twitter’s decision to implement this sorting change remains unknown. However, one speculation is that the company believes logged out users are more likely to follow or sign up for the service if they encounter the most popular posts first. By prioritizing well-liked content, Twitter may aim to attract and engage new users by showcasing the platform’s most appealing and successful posts.

X’s Ever-Changing Landscape

Since Elon Musk took leadership of the company, Twitter, now commonly referred to as X, has been undergoing a series of significant changes. Most recently, the platform made X Pro, previously known as TweetDeck, a subscriber-only product. This move aligns with the company’s earlier announcement in June that TweetDeck would only be accessible to verified users. It seems that X is actively exploring different strategies to optimize user experience and monetize its services.

Overall, Twitter’s decision to sort posts by likes rather than their chronological order has generated mixed reactions. While it may increase the visibility of popular content, it also risks overshadowing recent and time-sensitive posts. Only time will tell if this change proves to be beneficial or if X will continue to refine its sorting algorithms to strike the right balance between popularity and chronology.