X tweaks algorithm to boost mutual-follow visibility
Original: X just tweaked its algorithm to make it more friendly, less battleground
Why This Matters
The change signals X's ongoing effort to improve user retention and community-building amid competition from Threads.
X updated its recommendation algorithm on July 13, 2026 to increase the visibility of posts from 'mutuals' — users who follow each other — in reply sections. Head of product Nikita Bier stated the fix addresses missing data that had caused friends to appear less frequently in replies.
X's head of product Nikita Bier announced on July 13, 2026 that the platform made an algorithmic 'tweak' to boost the visibility of posts from mutual followers — accounts that follow each other. Bier explained: 'We noticed this data was missing from the algo and it made your friends appear less in your replies. This resulted in the reply section feeling more like a battleground with people you don't recognize.' He added the change would also 'help clusters form around interests more easily, which many people have asked for.' The update is part of a broader series of changes X has implemented to attract creators, including revised creator compensation rules earlier in 2026 aimed at rewarding original content over aggregation, and the introduction of a video editing tool earlier in July. The move comes as rival platform Threads, which reached 500 million monthly active users, has also been adjusting its algorithm to foster community — including a 'Your Algo' feature launched last month giving users private control over their feeds.