In the realm of social media platforms, user experience and engagement are pivotal. Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), announced a noteworthy update that is set to enhance the platform’s interface. In a reversal of a previous design choice, Musk declared that X will soon display headlines in preview cards with URLs, a feature that was discontinued last month.
On November 23, 2023, Musk took to X to inform users of an impending update to the platform: the reintroduction of titles on URL preview cards. He revealed that, in an upcoming release, “[X] will overlay title in the upper portion of the image of a URL card.” While this announcement did not come with a precise timeline or illustrative examples, it signals a clear intent to improve how information is presented on the platform.
This update comes after a decision in August of the same year by the Tesla CEO, stating that X planned to halt displaying titles with URLs in previews, citing “improved aesthetics” as the motive. Following through with this decision, the platform stopped showing headlines in October after his announcement. This alteration mandated that users had to click or tap on the URL card to unveil the title or read the headline—a change that was not widely appreciated by the user base. In reaction to the absence of titles, content publishers were compelled to devise their own workarounds. Many began to write headlines directly on images, post links separately, or include headlines in the image of the generated preview card.
The return to featuring headlines on preview cards is anticipated to simplify the process for publications and may negate the necessity for custom formats. However, the actual efficiency of this update will largely depend on the layout of the new card structure.
At the heart of this reversal is an acknowledgment of the value of immediacy and context in social media sharing. Users benefit from seeing at a glance what a link is about without the additional step of clicking through, which can be especially cumbersome on mobile devices.
This update is just one of the many changes Musk has brought to X since taking the helm. Since his acquisition, Musk has been actively re-envisioning and remodeling the platform with the intention to revamp and streamline the experience for its users. While some of his decisions have sparked controversy and debate, this particular move to bring back URL preview headlines appears to be a step toward reconciling user convenience with platform aesthetics.
As the X community awaits the rollout of this feature, the broader conversation continues about the optimal way to present and engage with content on the platform. With Musk at the controls, change is the only constant, and users can expect continued evolution in the platform’s design and functionality.
For more updates on this and related topics, readers can follow Elon Musk’s account on X and stay tuned to industry news.
