X rolls out new transparency feature revealing comprehensive account history

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has begun the rollout of an innovative feature dubbed 'About this account.' This new addition is embedded directly within user profiles and aims to aid users in identifying and addressing various forms of inauthentic behavior, such as misleading bots and advanced AI manipulation. This initiative stems from a promise made by Nikita Bier, X's head of product, who recognized the challenges users face when trying to distinguish real accounts from manipulated ones. By enhancing transparency, X seeks to empower its users with essential information to better assess the authenticity of accounts. The 'About this account' panel provides vital details about an account's background and history. Users will now have access to important data points, including the original join date, primary location, a comprehensive log of any username changes, and the source of application access. This allows users to scrutinize the authenticity of an account; for instance, if an account claims to be based in a UK city but its access history shows a consistent overseas origin, users have valid reasons to question its legitimacy. Accessing this feature is simple. Users can view their own account details by clicking on the displayed 'Joined' date on their profile. However, the feature's rollout is gradual, and currently, it is only visible to some users for their personal accounts, with broader visibility for other profiles still pending. Additionally, X is granting users more control over their privacy settings, allowing them to choose whether to show their exact country or a broader regional location. This move aligns X with other social media platforms, such as Instagram, that have already adopted similar transparency measures.