Elon Musk’s X platform has begun rolling out a new “About this account” feature that displays detailed information about user profiles, including account location, the number of username changes, original join date, and how the user downloaded the app. The initiative aims to combat inauthentic engagement, such as bots masquerading as humans, a challenge that could intensify with the rise of AI.
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The feature was first announced in October by Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, who tested it on his own account and those of other X employees. The goal is to help users gauge the authenticity of accounts they interact with. For instance, if a profile claims to be U.S.-based but the feature indicates a different location, it could raise questions about the account’s intentions.
Users can view the information by selecting the “Joined” date on their profile, revealing the account’s creation date, location, total username changes, most recent username change, and the platform used to access X. The feature allows users to choose whether their profile displays their country or a broader geographical region, even in regions like the U.S. where users are free to adjust this setting.
Additionally, a reverse engineer of the X app discovered that the platform is reportedly developing a warning for accounts using VPNs to mask location. If implemented, it would notify others that the user’s “country or region may not be accurate.” X has not yet commented on the rollout, though Bier noted that the feature is gradually appearing on user profiles.
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This move underscores X’s growing focus on transparency and safety, aiming to reduce misinformation and improve user trust in interactions across the platform.