X tweaks its algorithm to make replies feel more communal

X has made a tweak to boost the visibility of posts to users’ “mutuals,” meaning people they follow who also follow them back. Head of product Nikita Bier said the data was missing from the algorithm, which made friends appear less often in replies. The intended result is a reply experience that feels more familiar and less dominated by people users do not recognize.

The change may not drastically remake X’s overall user experience, but it could make parts of the platform feel more community-driven. Bier said the update should also help clusters form around interests more easily. For users, the practical takeaway is to watch whether replies and conversations begin surfacing more recognizable accounts.

The algorithm tweak follows other recent changes at X that appear aimed at strengthening the platform for creators. The site changed how it compensates accounts to incentivize original content rather than aggregation, and it introduced a video editor designed to make it easier for users to work on the platform. Together, these updates point to a broader effort to encourage more original posting and more cohesive interaction.

The move also comes as Meta’s Threads has been adjusting its own algorithm around community-building. Threads rolled out a “Your Algo” feature that lets users privately control what they see in their feed, and TechCrunch notes the service reached 500 million monthly active users. The contrast highlights how social platforms are competing not just on scale, but on how personal and community-oriented their feeds feel.