A feature that was supposed to secure X’s integrity has caused utter chaos on the platform after revealing shocking secrets about users’ favourite accounts.
Nikita Bier, head of product at X, revealed that a new “About this Account” feature is set to roll out worldwide, which will allow users to see the country and region where their favourite accounts are based.
“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see on X,” Bier said via X.
The feature caused quite a stir online after many accounts that people assumed were operating from the US are actually based in other countries, predominantly India.
Many pro-MAGA accounts actually post from countries like India and Thailand. For example, the account “Donaldo Trumpo,” which describes itself as an “unfiltered patriot,” is based in South Asia, according to the new update.
However, the account supposedly amended its bio, saying that the person behind it is a solutions engineer in various countries, including Laos, Thailand, and India.
Other MAGA and pro-Russian accounts posing as Americans were also revealed to be created and run from India, Bangladesh, and South Asian countries, one X user reveals.
For example, the account “Russian Army,” which has almost 65,000 followers and claims to offer the X community “unfiltered insights on Putin’s politics,” is also based in South Asia.
And a “fan-run political commentary account” with over 51,000 followers called MAGA Scope is based in Nigeria.
A post found by media outlet Canary showed that the Department of Homeland Security X page was actually based in Israel.
However, when Cybernews checked the account’s location, it now says it's based in the United States.
Although, as evidenced by Elon Musk’s profile, it seems that the data can be manipulated.
Musk’s account, when looking at the “Verified since” section, shows that the account has supposedly been verified “since 3000 BCE.”
When clicking on the information button next to the “Account Based” section, a tab opens, stating that “the country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation.”
It also says that this data “may not be accurate and can change periodically.”
However, the Department of Homeland Security refuted the claims saying that the account has "only ever been run and operated from the United States."
Bier backed this up by saying that "location was not available on any grey checked accounts at any point."
What’s all the fuss about?
The new feature seems to reveal what Americans on X have always feared.
That their communities of like-minded individuals have actually been infiltrated by foreign trolls looking to poke fun at the American political climate and far-right political ideals.
Many users have claimed that X has paused the feature due to exposing many “blue ticks,” aka verified accounts, as “grifters from Africa and Asia.”
Users have accused these foreign accounts masquerading as American-based creators of “rage farming” for monetary gain.
“Shocking news: underpaid content farm workers are manufacturing rage for the developed world,” said one X user.
While this new feature seems to be a step in the right direction when it comes to securing the sanctity of X communities, it seems Musk wasn’t prepared for the revelations it would uncover.
Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are markedmarked