X Updates Algorithm to Encourage Healthier Conversations and Reduce Conflict

X has introduced a new algorithm adjustment designed to increase the visibility of posts from users’ “mutuals” — people you follow who also follow you back — according to Nikita Bier, the platform’s head of product.

Bier explained on Monday that the platform discovered this relationship signal had been missing from its recommendation algorithm, causing replies from friends and familiar accounts to appear less frequently. As a result, reply sections often felt dominated by unfamiliar users, making discussions seem more confrontational than community-driven.

“We noticed this data was missing from the algo and it made your friends appear less in your replies,” Bier said. “This resulted in the reply section feeling more like a battleground with people you don’t recognise.”

While the update is unlikely to transform the overall experience on X dramatically, it is intended to make conversations feel more personal by surfacing interactions with people users already know. The change could help shift the platform toward a stronger sense of community instead of a constant stream of disconnected voices competing for attention.

Bier also noted that the adjustment should make it easier for communities centred on shared interests to develop naturally, addressing user feedback requesting stronger interest-based interactions on the platform.

The update follows several recent product changes at X aimed at strengthening its appeal to creators. Earlier this year, the company revised its creator payment system to reward original content instead of aggregated posts. More recently, X introduced a built-in video editor, making it easier for creators to produce and publish content directly within the app.

The latest algorithm tweak also comes as Meta’s Threads continues to refine its own recommendation system, with a focus on community building. Last month, Threads launched its “Your Algo” feature, allowing users to customise what appears in their feeds privately. The Meta-owned platform also recently surpassed 500 million monthly active users.