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X weighs adding a downvote button to replies — but it doesn't want to emulate Reddit

TechCrunch · 4m

Twitter, now known as X, is considering bringing back a downvote feature for posts. This feature was previously tested in 2021 and involves users being able to downvote replies. Code references found in the X iOS app suggest that the company is exploring the addition of downvotes to improve how replies are ranked. While this doesn't confirm that the feature will be rolled out, comments from an X engineer and owner Elon Musk indicate support for leveraging negative signals to enhance ranking systems. This approach is similar to X's use of negative ratings in its Community Notes feature. X's potential reintroduction of downvotes could help identify better replies in long threads and inspire similar tools on other platforms. In addition, a new user interface design might hide engagement buttons by default in favor of a gesture-based menu for accessing actions.