The “About this account” feature is now rolling out to select X users, marking a significant step by the platform to enhance authenticity and transparency across its service. This new feature displays an expanded array of data points about a profile, offering users more context on the source of the content they consume.
The information made public through this feature is comprehensive. It includes the user’s country of origin/location, the specific country where the account was originally created, the total number of times the username has been changed, and whether the current connection to X is via the web or a particular app store.
According to X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, the primary goal of the upcoming “About this account” feature is to verify the authenticity of content posted on the platform. This move follows in the footsteps of other major social media platforms, drawing a comparison to Facebook’s Page transparency and Instagram’s own “About this account” feature.
Users can currently view their own details by clicking the “Joined” button situated underneath their X bio. The feature provides some user control; while the exact country is the default option, users can opt to display only their region or continent. Bier previously confirmed that the feature will also include “privacy toggles” allowing users to manage what information is shown on their profile.
Furthermore, the new transparency feature accounts for security measures like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Internet sleuths have already spotted that accounts accessing X through a VPN may display a disclaimer stating, “Country or region may not be accurate,” adding a layer of honesty regarding potential location obfuscation. Since the feature is still rolling out, not all users can yet see the information for others.
Sources
- X Rollout Details: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/x-launches-transparency-feature-revealing-account-history-location-and-username-changes-10380354/
- Nikita Bier’s Original Statement on X (via CryptoRank): https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/a7d8e-x-display-country-of-origin-public-profiles
- VPN/Accuracy Challenges & User Control: https://www.bitget.com/amp/news/detail/12560605076748
- Instagram’s Similar Feature (Help Center): https://help.instagram.com/697961817256175/
- Meta/Facebook Transparency Context: https://transparency.meta.com/