X is rolling out a brand new way to handle links in posts, and it could be exactly what we’ve all been waiting for. Let me walk you through what’s happening and why it matters.
The Problem We’ve All Been Facing
Posting links on X has always felt like a gamble. You share something amazing, people click the link, and then poof. They’re gone. They’ve forgotten all about your post because they’re now reading that article or watching that video on a completely different page. No likes, no replies, no retweets. It’s like your post just disappeared into thin air.
Creators have been complaining for ages that posts with external links tend to get way less engagement and lower reach. The reason is pretty straightforward. When someone clicks your link, their browser takes over the entire screen. Your post gets completely hidden, and people simply forget to come back and interact with it. X’s algorithm notices this lack of engagement and decides your post isn’t worth showing to more people. It’s a vicious cycle.
What X Is Doing About It
X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, just announced they’re testing a brand new link experience that’s starting with iOS users.
Instead of completely covering your post when someone clicks a link, the new feature keeps your post visible at the bottom of the screen. Someone clicks your link, starts reading the article, but your original post stays right there, collapsed at the bottom. They can still like, reply, or repost without having to go back and hunt for your post again.
The idea is to make it easier for people to engage with posts while they’re browsing the linked content. It’s like having your cake and eating it too. Your followers get to explore the content you shared, and you still get the engagement you deserve.
Why This Matters for Everyone
This update is honestly pretty exciting, and here’s why. First off, X wants to ensure that all content on the platform has equal visibility in everyone’s timeline. That means your posts with links won’t automatically be pushed down anymore just because they include external URLs.
For anyone who shares news articles, blog posts, research papers, or any kind of external content, this is huge. You won’t have to choose between sharing valuable resources and getting decent engagement anymore. It’s a win-win situation.
Also, think about how this changes the user experience. Right now, when I click a link, I often forget where I found it. With this new setup, that original post stays visible, making it super easy to give credit where credit is due. I can react immediately if something resonates with me.
What You Should Do Now
The feature is still in testing mode, so not everyone has access to it yet. But here’s what you can do right now to prepare for when it rolls out to everyone.
Keep sharing quality content with links. Don’t let the fear of low engagement stop you from posting valuable resources. With this new update coming, things are looking up for link posts.
Also, remember what X has been saying all along: your post should stand alone as great content. Don’t just drop a link and call it a day. Write a compelling caption that gives people a reason to care about what you’re sharing. Tell them why the link matters, what they’ll learn, or how it helped you.
X is testing this new in-app browser feature to keep users engaged within the app itself while still allowing them to access external content. This could completely change how we think about sharing links on social media.
