X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has officially unveiled a new feature that displays country-of-origin labels on all user profiles. This initiative aims to significantly enhance transparency by clearly identifying users” geographical origins.
To access this new feature, users can visit any profile, click on the date the account was created, and view its location along with the App Store it”s linked to. The update also reveals details about the account”s verification status and the number of times the username has changed. However, it is important to note that this feature is not yet available to all users.
Nikita Bier, head of product at X, explained that this feature is designed to help users authenticate the content they encounter on the platform. “When you read content on X, you should be able to verify its authenticity,” Bier stated. The goal is to provide users with essential context regarding the information they consume, especially concerning significant global issues. The rollout will begin next week, featuring a selection of X team members” profiles to gather feedback.
Many users anticipate that this long-awaited feature will assist in identifying accounts that spread misinformation or engage in unethical practices, such as impersonating users from different regions. One user expressed frustration over foreign accounts influencing American affairs, stating, “I”m tired of accounts from India and Russia meddling with American affairs.”
However, not all responses are positive. Some users fear that the introduction of country labels may lead to increased racial profiling or abuse based on geographical origin. A concerned user remarked, “I dislike this and think that it will be a regressive force that will end up suppressing people”s freedom of speech.”
In related news, a recent survey from the Pew Research Center indicates that X has experienced stagnation under Musk”s leadership. Usage among Americans has remained nearly unchanged, with a slight decrease noted among younger users aged 18 to 29. The report highlighted that this demographic, which constitutes a significant portion of social media users, saw a drop from 42% to 33% over the past year.
Additionally, the platform has reportedly lost 10% of its user base annually from the second quarter of 2024 to 2025. In contrast, competitors like TikTok and Instagram have shown modest growth during the same period. Users are growing disillusioned with Musk”s vision of transforming X into an “Everything App,” as ongoing issues, including outages, continue to plague the platform. Just recently, thousands of users reported problems accessing the site, with over 19,500 issues logged on Downdetector.
As the landscape of social media evolves, stakeholders will be closely watching how X”s new features and user engagement trends develop in the coming months.
