Elon Musk strips news headlines from X, posing challenge for media outlets

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

X, the site formerly known as Twitter, has removed automatically generated headlines from links to external websites, including news articles, the latest change introduced by owner Elon Musk as he seeks to remold the social media company and reduce traffic to other sites.

Under the new format, posts linking to third-party news stories or websites automatically load those articles’ lead images in preview tiles along with their web domains — but with no headlines, depriving readers of key context from the publishers about their articles, according to a review by The Washington Post on Thursday. The change also appeared to affect shared links to non-news websites, although it did not affect paid advertisements, which still loaded with headlines, The Post’s review found.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Thursday.

The change comes amid a wider push by X to discourage users from clicking on external links, including links leading to news sites. “Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don’t get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away,” Musk said in a tweet Tuesday.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/10/05/twitter-x-news-headlines-removed/

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[Walleye]

1. Joseph Conrad said something in a story about businessmen extolling competition and free enterprise

But what they really cherish is a monopoly

[AllaN01Bear]

2. the big ones have had monopoly status for years.

[LudwigPastorius]

3. It's almost like Musk is trying to "concentrate" users into an area he can control.

I did Nazi that coming.

[ShazzieB]

4. And the destruction of what's left of Twitter continues. 🙄

Imo, sharing links was one of the main things Twitter was good for, but Eloon has decided to "optimize time spent on X" instead.

Pretty soon, the app will be completely useless. Way to go, Eloon.

[Marthe48]

5. I have been skipping any links to that Xithole site

There are plenty of other sites where people can posts short videos, short comments, and headlines.

I had a Twitter account that I cancelled a week after the goblin king bought it. I hope that Buitengebiden switches to a different site. I miss watching those posts.

[highplainsdem]

6. Musk tweeted the other day to recommend ignoring "legacy media" in favor of

getting all news from Twitter/X, since supposedly it has news hours or days ahead of real news sites.

Editing to add that tweet, from the 3rd, and an earlier one from 9/29:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[greyl]

9. It might be an intentional tactic, loose screws included. nt

[ificandream]

8. If you post stories, add the headlines.

Fuck Musk.