Tech magnate Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, will be implementing a modification in the way news article links are presented. This alteration could potentially pose difficulties for news organizations in attracting audiences.
According to Musk’s late Monday announcement, X is set to eliminate the display of headlines and accompanying text from links to news articles shared on the social media network. Instead, only the primary image will remain visible in these links.
This strategic move appears to be an effort by Musk to encourage users to spend more time on the X platform and nudge them toward subscribing to access further details. The intention is to enhance the allure of the subscription service.
The exact implications of this change for advertisers on the platform are not immediately apparent. Musk previously claimed in July that X boasted a user base of 540 million individuals on a monthly basis.
At present, news links appear as “cards” on users’ timelines, featuring an image, source link, and a concise headline. This format has been effective in prompting clicks and aiding publishers in growing their readership.
However, with the introduction of shortened links, users may find themselves composing more text within their posts. Over time, this could potentially lead to an increased interest in X’s premium service, which permits posts of up to 25,000 characters in length.
Read more: Elon Musk Tests Live Streaming Feature on X(Twitter)
Musk’s modifications are aimed at positioning X as a more pertinent platform for content creators. Premium subscribers will now be able to share longer videos, enjoy greater visibility for their posts, and receive a share of the advertising revenue.
This move by Elon Musk’s X, though heralded as a potential enhancement for content creators and users, raises questions about its impact on news outlets and their ability to attract and engage audiences. The evolving dynamics between social media platforms and publishers continue to reshape the digital landscape.
