X admits algorithm flaw turned the site into a 'battleground'
X’s head of product acknowledged the algorithm was missing data about mutual follows, making reply sections chaotic. A tweak is now rolling out to boost community feel.
X (formerly Twitter) head of product Nikita Bier admitted on Monday that the platform’s algorithm was missing data about surfacing posts from people users follow back. This flaw caused replies to appear mostly from strangers rather than friends, making the reply section feel like a “battleground.”
Bier announced a small tweak to boost visibility of posts to mutuals (people who follow each other). He did not explain how the data went missing but expressed hope that the change will help build communities and reduce random arguments.
This follows earlier admissions by Bier that top accounts often post “stolen” recycled content, and that users posting original content will “climb faster” in the algorithm.
Similar updates have been rolled out by competitors. Threads (Meta) recently surpassed 500 million monthly active users, attributing growth to communities. Bluesky COO Rose Wang said the platform is shifting from a Twitter-style “town square,” and CEO Toni Schneider emphasized small, private communities.
Meanwhile, X ended its Community feature in May, migrating users to large group chats. Bier said X will continue investing in niche communities via custom timelines.
