Observed Signal · Feb 15, 2024 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
X Tests Follower Sorting Feature
X is testing a new set of sorting options for the follower list, enabling users to order followers by the date followed, by interaction frequency, or by follower count, with an additional filter for verified accounts. Screenshots shared by Andrea Conway, an X designer, illustrate the available options and indicate that the official launch has not yet been announced. The article also recalls a separate test to sort replies by Trending, Recent, or Liked. Additionally, advertisers are being offered a Creator-Targeting option to place ads beside content from Premium Creators. The piece notes competition from Threads and Bluesky, with Bluesky reportedly gaining hundreds of thousands of users after removing its waitlist. Overall, the content highlights ongoing UX experiments and feature testing across social platforms.
Minor feature test; not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- X is testing follower sorting options: sort by follow date, by interaction frequency, by follower count; includes a verified accounts filter; screenshots by Andrea Conway show options.
- Official launch for the follower sorting feature has not been announced.
- X has recently tested sorting Replies by Trending, Recent, or Liked.
- Advertisers gained a Creator-Targeting option to place ads next to content from Premium Creators.
- Bluesky gained hundreds of thousands of new users after removing its waitlist; Threads is also mentioned as a competitor.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
X Tweaks Algorithm to Prioritize Mutual Followers
X updated its ranking algorithm to boost the visibility of posts from users' "mutuals" — accounts a user follows that follow them back — a change announced by Nikita Bier, X's head of product. The company says the adjustment addresses missing signals that made friends appear less in replies and that it should reduce hostile reply threads while helping interest-based clusters form. The tweak is one of several recent product moves by X aimed at promoting original creators (including compensation changes) and creator tools (a video editor). The change follows similar community-focused feed work from Meta's Threads.
X Prioritizes Mutuals' Content in Feed
X announced an algorithm update that will show users more content from mutual followers (accounts that follow each other) to create a friendlier feed and reduce heated, anonymous reply threads. Nikita Bier, X's Head of Product, framed the change as a way to increase visibility for 'mutuals' and foster interest clusters that could also interest advertisers. The article notes X now operates under the brand SpaceXAI and references recent product and AI activity (Grok 4.5, a new video editor, and XChat for Android). It also compares similar moves on competitor platforms such as Threads and Instagram, which have introduced user controls for feed preferences.
X Adds Native Post Scheduling in App
Social media platform X has introduced a native post scheduling feature directly within its mobile app, eliminating the need for users to rely on the browser version or third-party tools. The feature allows users to schedule posts up to two years in advance, providing significant flexibility for content planning. The functionality is initially rolling out on iOS, with indications of availability in Europe, and is expected to expand globally and to Android later. This update benefits social media managers, businesses, and creators by enabling better content organization and batch production. In parallel, X continues to enhance its advertising capabilities with the X Ads MCP, which allows advertisers to create ads using AI tools through natural language commands.
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