X, formerly known as Twitter, is currently testing the implementation of a negative button for posts that will allow users to rate content based on its relevance or accuracy. The feature was first tested by the microblogging platform in 2021, prior to its acquisition by Elon Musk. Now, X is revisiting this feature and considering adding a downvote button to indicate when content is deemed irrelevant.
The news about the negative button feature was revealed after references were found in the code of the latest iOS app update, suggesting that the company plans to add negative votes to enhance post rankings on the platform. Engineer and analyst Aaron Perris shared this information in a post on X that was picked up by TechCrunch, showcasing an inverted yellow arrow-shaped downvote button next to the ‘Like’ heart icon on posts. Additionally, engineer and founder of X Community Notes, Jay Baxter, and Elon Musk himself have also acknowledged this feature.
Baxter noted that negative votes could support the function of commented notes as another method for evaluating publications. However, he emphasized the need to use the negative buttons wisely, cautioning that adding them all up without discretion could lead to a Reddit-like hive mind. To prevent this, X utilizes features such as private ratings from users on comments to maintain a more balanced discussion environment.