X Users Can Now Activate Side-Swiping Likes and Replies In-Stream

X is taking a slightly different tack with its plan to remove all post function buttons in-stream, opting instead for a more measured approach that might end up being one of its most well-received updates in a while. Today, in an announcement from X engineer May Ly, it was revealed that iOS users now have the option to activate side-swiping functionalities for likes and replies via their app settings. “✨ New iOS Feature ✨ You can now hide engagement buttons and numbers below each post and interact with posts through custom swipe gestures! Give it a try! ????https://t.co/6DTPtzWEpr pic.twitter.com/lkYXp2RBLm — May Ly (@mayxlyy) November 21, 2024.“ As demonstrated in the attached video, users can turn on side-swiping options available in their “Timeline“ settings. They can also optionally conceal the engagement buttons and numbers beneath each post. Thus, X is not forcing new features and user interface changes onto its users in the expected manner, contrary to what owner Elon Musk had suggested would happen. Instead, X is providing a choice to its users to experiment with these settings. The more intriguing aspect is that users have the freedom to assign functions to their side-swipes at their discretion. For instance, a right-swipe might be assigned as a bookmark option, or even chosen to execute no function at all. This measured strategy deviates sharply from Musk's regular approach of imposing his favored changes in the app. Musk's plan, reiterated in March, was to get rid of all function buttons and engagement count in-stream to present a cleaner timeline. “Just time & viewcount in the upper right, nothing on the bottom. Swipe right to reply, left to favorite, tap & hold for all other actions. Very clean. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2024.“ However, many users resisted the proposed changes, suspecting they would curtail in-stream interactions and leave new users puzzled about engagement modalities. Despite this, Musk was set on enhancing the feed's “esthetics“ using his proposed method. Now, with these changes, X seems to have reconsidered its approach in favor of a more intuitive solution. This change might eventually lead to the complete removal of all engagement buttons and counts in-stream, but it's a considerably more cooperative approach that might also inspire new user behaviors helping guide X's decision-making process. Side-swiping options might not be enabled by all users, but the unique approach could be beneficial. If X still decides to eliminate the buttons completely as originally planned, the platform can do so later.