X will bring back headlines to posts after a short hiatus

Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter / X has been through several changes, some more popular than others. One of the most controversial changes was the removal of headlines from posts, which made links less visible on the platform. However, they are coming back. Android users were lucky here, as this move only affected iOS and web users.

Musk has announced that Twitter / X will soon display headlines again on URL cards. Interestingly, 9to5Google points out, that Musk’s announcement came just hours after he shared an article from Reuters without a headline preview, making it difficult for others to understand the context of the link. This suggests that Musk’s own experience with the lack of headlines may have influenced his decision to bring them back.

Why did Elon Musk remove the headlines in the first place?

Elon Musk had removed headlines and subheads from the shared URLs on the platform because he wanted to improve the “esthetics”. However, this move affected those who relied on Twitter / X for news because the move made it difficult for users. Because an image is not enough to catch the attention of readers. It requires a header, at least. It’s like presenting a dish without any description. Just a plate with something on it. Without knowing what it is, you might be hesitant to try it. Notably, Twitter remains a vital platform for news and information among U.S. adults.

However, the new headline previews will be slightly different than the past, as Musk notes that the “title” will be in the “upper po[r]tion (sic)”. Previously, the headlines were overlaid at the bottom. He confirmed the change in another post. Nonetheless, he hasn’t moved even an inch from his previous stance. He still hates the previous URL cards. He wrote, “I hate those giant, ugly URL cards.”

While Musk’s tenure at Twitter / X has introduced controversial changes like Twitter Blue (now X Premium), the decision to bring back headlines is generally well-received. However, some users took the opportunity to mock Musk for reinstating a feature he initially chose to remove.