Elon Musk-run X is reportedly developing a new downvoting feature aimed at improving the ranking of replies. Although the company has not officially announced its plans, recent findings indicate that the 'downvote' feature might resemble a 'dislike' button rather than a traditional Reddit-style downvote icon, according to TechCrunch. Code references discovered in the X iOS app reveal a button that looks like a broken heart icon next to the platform's heart-shaped 'like' button, along with direct references to a 'downvote' feature.
The company initially tested this feature in 2021, prior to Elon Musk's acquisition of X. Earlier this month, reverse engineer Aaron Perris, known as @aaronp613 on X, uncovered references in the iOS app pointing to the development of a downvote feature. His recent findings include additional image files in the iOS app that suggest the button could be styled as a broken heart, along with more explicit references to the downvote feature itself.
Downvotes & Broken Heart
Originally, X tested both upvoting and downvoting buttons across all posts. However, the latest tests indicate that the platform is now considering allowing downvotes only on replies. This shift suggests a focused approach to managing the quality and relevance of interactions within threads, potentially helping to surface more meaningful and constructive replies.
In a related development, Musk confirmed in June the rollout of a new feature that will hide all likes by default for X users. This move aligns with the platform's ongoing efforts to refine user interactions and engagement metrics, offering a more nuanced approach to content evaluation beyond simple likes and dislikes.
The introduction of a downvote feature, particularly one styled as a broken heart, could significantly impact the dynamics of user engagement on X, providing users with a more expressive way to react to content while helping the platform better curate replies.