X Introduces New “About This Account” Feature for Enhanced Transparency
X (formerly Twitter) has rolled out a significant new feature aimed at increasing platform transparency and reducing the spread of misinformation. The social media platform is now testing and deploying the “About This Account” feature, which displays detailed information about user accounts, including their country of origin.
What Information Does the Feature Display?
The “About This Account” feature provides users with comprehensive background information about accounts on the platform. When viewing an account’s profile, users can now see the account creation date, the country of origin, which app store was used to create the account (such as the United States App Store), the number of previous username changes, and the date of the last modification.
This multi-layered approach to transparency allows users to quickly assess whether an account might be authentic or potentially misleading, helping them make informed decisions about the content they encounter.
The Purpose Behind the Feature
X is rolling out this feature with the primary goal of increasing transparency and curbing misinformation on the platform. The platform aims to reduce inauthentic engagement—interactions coming from anonymous or misleading accounts—by enabling users to verify the background of accounts sharing content.
In an era where fake accounts and coordinated misinformation campaigns pose significant challenges to social media platforms, this feature represents an important step toward strengthening digital trust and authenticity.
Privacy Considerations
Recognizing privacy concerns, X has implemented safeguards in the rollout. In response to privacy feedback, X added an option allowing users to display only their continent or broader geographical region instead of a specific country. This compromise allows users to maintain some anonymity while still contributing to the platform’s transparency initiatives.
Rollout Timeline
The feature began testing with a limited number of employee accounts to test functionality and gather feedback before being released globally to all users. This phased approach ensures that any potential issues are identified and addressed before full deployment.
What This Means for X Users
This update is part of X’s broader efforts to clarify account identity and display technical details that help distinguish authentic accounts from fake ones. Users will now have access to critical information that was previously hidden, empowering them to engage more safely with content on the platform.
As social media platforms continue to grapple with misinformation and inauthentic behavior, features like “About This Account” represent a step toward a more transparent and trustworthy digital ecosystem.