X is taking a significant step forward in testing its new downvote feature for post replies. This week, a new version of the downvote option appeared in the app's back-end code, indicating it is nearing public release.
A new downvote button
The latest user interface (UI) addition to replies is a broken heart icon, contrasting with the heart icon used for likes. This effectively acts as a dislike button, but it will only be available for post replies, not the main posts themselves. This feature aims to help X rank the most relevant replies higher, enhancing engagement and allowing users to downvote spam and unhelpful comments, pushing them further down the list.
Community Notes wouldn't work well without negative rating signal.
— Jay Baxter (@_jaybaxter_) July 2, 2024
But you have to be smart about how you use them. If you naively add them all up, you'll get a hivemind like Reddit.
One way: only downrank if you see negative ratings from people who typically disagree https://t.co/YfX7Fpm8ka
As more users start to downvote irrelevant or spammy replies, these low-quality comments will become less visible. Over time, this could discourage spammers from posting purely for engagement purposes.
However, there is a potential downside. Users might downvote comments they disagree with, obscuring legitimate criticism or factual statements due to ideological biases.
Addressing bias in downvotes
X knows this issue and plans to factor in users' historical political biases when using dislikes as a ranking signal. For example, supporters of Trump won't be able to flood a pro-Biden post's replies with downvotes. This approach is similar to the political leaning measurement used in Community Notes.
Ideally, this system should rank replies without political bias, but much depends on how X determines each user's political stance and weights it in the ranking process. In theory, this should prevent users from weaponising the downvote feature to suppress opinions they don't like, focusing instead on targeting spammers and engagement baiters.
If successful, this new system could improve engagement on the platform by highlighting the most exciting and relevant comments, making it easier for users to join the conversation without sifting through irrelevant replies.
User experience considerations
X has not yet provided detailed information about the new downvote option but has confirmed that early experiments are underway, with plans for a broader test soon. So, you may quickly be expressing your dissatisfaction with X's replies using a broken heart emoji. Although this symbol might seem heavy-handed, the concept aims to enhance the X experience by giving users more control over comment ranking.
In a related development, X also plans to refresh its feed UI. This update will hide all lower post-function buttons in favour of a cleaner, more straightforward feed. According to an example shared by @aaronp613, you can still tap through any post within the new timeline format. All the function buttons will still be there, just hidden from the main view.
Here is what X is going to look like without any like/repost buttons on the timeline, all gesture based:
— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 2, 2024
Swipe left and right to like and reply or Force Touch to see a menu with more actions pic.twitter.com/imfgi0ouvV
This change could cause some confusion. For instance, you will soon be able to swipe left to like a post, but to dislike a reply, you will need to tap on a specific button below the post. The same applies to picking a reply. These variations in interaction affect the user experience, either positively or negatively.
The aim is to build a more responsive UI based on swipe functionality, which could eventually be more intuitive. However, if this approach works differently across various app elements, it might create adoption challenges.
We will soon find out how these updates will affect the user experience, with both the downvote feature and the new UI changes approaching their launch.
