X Rolls Out “About This Account” Feature to Boost Transparency

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has started rolling out a new feature that adds detailed information to user profiles. The “About this account” feature shows where an account is based, how many times the username has changed, the original join date, and how the user downloaded the X app. According to X, this update is intended to curb inauthentic activity, such as bots pretending to be human users—a challenge that is expected to grow in the era of AI.

Early Announcements and Testing

The feature was first announced in October when X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, shared that the company would experiment with displaying account information, starting with his own profile and those of X employees. Bier explained that exposing these details would help users make better judgments about the authenticity of accounts, potentially identifying bots or accounts spreading misinformation.

“For instance, if an X account’s bio claimed the user was from a U.S. state, but their account information shows that they’re based overseas, you might suspect they had another agenda,” the update explained.

Fast-Tracked Rollout

The feature began appearing on user profiles shortly after Bier responded to a post asking Elon Musk to make location information mandatory. Bier replied, “Give me 72 hours.” Since then, more users have reported seeing the “About this account” feature on their own profiles.

Users can access the feature by clicking on the “Joined” date on their profile, either via the web or the X mobile app. This page provides details about the join date, account location, username change history, and how the account is connected to X, such as through the U.S. App Store or Google Play.

Privacy Options and Regional Settings

While some users can now see the feature on their profiles, TechCrunch reports that it is not yet visible on others’ profiles. This delay may be intentional, allowing users to review and adjust their information before the broader rollout.

X gives users the option to display their country or just their geographical region. Initially intended for regions where free speech might carry penalties, even U.S. users can now select between showing their country or region, with the country setting as the default. Adjustments can be made under the “About your account” section in the X app’s “Privacy and Safety” settings.

Potential Future Updates

A reverse engineer examining X’s code found that the platform may add a feature to flag accounts using VPNs, with a warning that the “country or region may not be accurate.” It remains unclear when this update would be activated.

While X did not comment officially on the rollout, Bier humorously acknowledged the numerous sightings of the feature as it began appearing on profiles.

Industry Context

X is not the first platform to provide this type of account transparency. Instagram has long offered a similar “About this account” feature, allowing users to view detailed account information to assess authenticity.