X, formerly known as Twitter and now under Elon Musk’s leadership, is in the process of developing a downvoting feature to enhance how replies are ranked. While the company has not officially announced this update, recent discoveries suggest that the downvote feature may function more like a “dislike” button rather than a Reddit-style downvote icon. Code references within X’s iOS app now reveal a button resembling a broken heart icon next to the familiar heart-shaped “like” button, along with explicit mentions of a “downvote” feature.
In 2021, when still operating as Twitter, the platform experimented with downvoting prior to Musk’s acquisition. During the initial trial, both upvoting and downvoting buttons were tested across all posts. However, latest tests indicate that X is now primarily exploring the possibility of allowing downvotes solely on replies. This feature aims to elevate better replies to the top of lengthy threads while pushing less popular replies further down, potentially discouraging users from posting contentious content solely to provoke negative reactions.
Reverse engineer Aaron Perris, known as @aaronp613 on X, recently discovered hints of the downvote feature within X’s iOS app, including images depicting a broken heart button and explicit references to the feature itself. Screenshots shared by Perris also reveal prompts asking users to confirm their downvotes, indicating a thorough development process for this upcoming feature.
Despite these developments, it remains uncertain whether X plans to introduce the downvote feature for all posts or exclusively for replies. Public sightings of the dislike button on some accounts suggest ongoing testing and potential expansion of this new functionality.
In addition to the downvote feature, X has recently made changes to its “likes” system, with Musk opting to hide likes from public view to promote engagement with more controversial content while safeguarding users’ online personas.
