X tests downvoting feature for better reply rankings

Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, is developing a downvoting feature to enhance reply rankings. Recent findings suggest this feature may resemble a “dislike” button rather than a Reddit-style downvote icon.

The new feature, discovered in the X iOS app, shows a button appearing as a broken heart icon next to X’s heart-shaped “like” button. Reverse engineer Aaron Perris found references to the downvoting function, indicating users may soon see prompts like “Do you want to downvote this post?” This suggests X might be considering downvotes for all posts, not just replies.

Previously, Twitter tested downvoting in 2021, allowing both upvotes and downvotes across all posts. However, current tests indicate X is focusing on downvoting replies only, aiming to highlight better replies at the top of threads while pushing less-liked ones further down. This could discourage users from posting content designed to provoke anger and generate dislikes.

Recent sightings of the dislike button on an X employee’s account, and videos shared by user @P4mui showing the button in action, suggest that public tests are underway. While the button is currently available only on replies, its availability might expand.

Under Musk’s ownership, X has also made other changes to the “likes” system, including hiding likes from public view. This allows users to like more “edgy” content without worrying about their image.

By developing the downvoting feature, X aims to improve user experience by refining the ranking and visibility of replies, continuing its evolution under Musk’s direction.