After nearly two decades of user complaints, X (formerly known as Twitter) has addressed a persistent issue within its app: the automatic refresh of the feed that often caused users to lose their place while reading. This spontaneous reloading disrupted the user experience by making content disappear unexpectedly.
The problem was recently highlighted by entrepreneur and investor Jesse Pujji, prompting a response from X’s head of product, Nikita Bier. Bier announced that a fix is being implemented, describing the issue as a bug rather than an intentional feature. He stated, After 18 years, this bug is finally fixed.
Auto-refreshing feeds have been a common practice among social media platforms, intended to keep users engaged by continuously presenting new content. However, this approach has often led to user frustration. Instagram, for instance, acknowledged the annoyance caused by such automatic updates and ceased the practice last year. They recognized that while it might boost engagement metrics, it negatively impacts user satisfaction.
The update to X’s app is currently being rolled out. Users should soon notice that their feeds remain static until they choose to refresh manually. This change aims to enhance the reading experience by allowing users to consume content at their own pace without unexpected interruptions.
It’s important to note that if this modification leads to a significant drop in user engagement, X may reconsider and potentially revert to the previous auto-refresh behavior. For now, users can enjoy a more stable and user-friendly browsing experience on the platform.
