X’s ‘About This Account’ Feature Sparks Widespread Confusion
▼ Summary
– X launched a new About This Account feature showing account creation and base countries, with product head Nikita Bier acknowledging initial issues.
– The company removed the account creation location data due to inaccuracies, especially affecting older accounts.
– Users on X exploited the flawed data to falsely accuse political opponents of being foreign operatives, despite knowing it was unreliable.
– Inaccuracies stem from factors like travel, VPN usage, and outdated IP addresses, as seen with accounts incorrectly listed in Japan, the US, and Spain.
– Some accounts are genuinely based abroad for foreign influence or financial gain, as monetization on X thrives on political engagement.
The recent rollout of X’s ‘About This Account’ feature has generated significant confusion among users, with many reporting inaccurate location details. This new tool displays both the country where an account was created and the country where it is currently “based,” which differs from the “connected via” information. X’s Head of Product, Nikita Bier, acknowledged that the feature had “a few rough edges” but assured users that improvements would be made by Tuesday.
User complaints about incorrect data quickly surfaced, prompting the company to remove the “account creation” details entirely. X explained that this information was not completely reliable, particularly for older accounts. Rather than waiting calmly for fixes, the platform’s community erupted into a frenzy of accusations. Many users began labeling accounts they disagree with as foreign operatives, despite knowing that the displayed information could be flawed.
Several factors contribute to these inaccuracies. Frequent travelers, global media outlets, and individuals using VPNs can all cause location data to appear incorrect. Outdated IP addresses also play a role, as demonstrated by several high-profile examples: educator Hank Green’s account shows Japan, MusicTech (affiliated with the UK’s NME) appears based in the United States, and Massachusetts-based audio software company AVID is listed in Spain.
While some accounts engaging in political provocation genuinely operate from outside the US, the flawed data complicates legitimate identification of such activity. It is well-documented that foreign troll farms attempt to influence political discourse, but financial incentives also drive this behavior. X’s monetization system rewards high engagement, and politically charged content often generates the interactions needed to earn revenue. This combination of inaccurate data and existing skepticism has created a perfect storm of misinformation and suspicion on the platform.
(Source: The Verge)
