Elon Musk’s X has introduced a new profile feature that reveals details about each account, such as its location, the number of times the username has been changed, the date the account was created, and the method used to download the X app. This update aims to curb fake interactions on the platform, where bots frequently impersonate real users—a challenge that is only growing with advancements in AI.
The company first shared its intentions for this feature back in October, when Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, mentioned that they would start testing this information display on his own profile and those of other X staff. By making these details visible, the goal is to help users better judge whether an account is genuine or if it might be a bot or someone with malicious intent trying to spread false information or create conflict.
For example, if someone’s X profile claims they are from a certain U.S. state but their account details indicate they are located abroad, it could raise questions about their true intentions.
Last weekend, Bier replied to a post where a user asked Elon Musk to make location information mandatory for accounts, telling the user, “Give me 72 hours.”
Since then, more users have noticed the “About this account” option appearing on their profiles.
To check your own account details on the web or in the X mobile app, simply click on the “Joined” date on your profile. This will take you to a page displaying when you joined Twitter/X, your account’s location, the number and date of username changes, and how you accessed X—such as through the U.S. App Store or Google Play.
However, while some users around the world report seeing this feature on their own profiles, TechCrunch has not yet been able to view this information on other users’ profiles at the time of writing. This could be because X wants to give people a chance to review and update their information before making it widely available.
Specifically, X lets users choose whether to show their country or just their broader region. Initially, the company said this option would be available in places where free speech could have consequences, but it appears that even users in the U.S. can select whether to display their country or their region/continent. (By default, the country is shown.)
Image Credits:X
To update this setting, go to the “About your account” section within the X app’s “Privacy and Safety” menu.
A reverse engineer who examined the app’s code (see below) also discovered that X is developing a feature that would alert others if you use a VPN to conceal your location. It’s not clear when or if this will be released, but if it is, it will notify others that your “country or region may not be accurate.”
X did not provide a comment regarding the rollout. Nonetheless, Bier made light of the recent sightings, suggesting that users were beginning to notice the feature as it was introduced.
X is not the first platform to offer this kind of transparency. For example, Instagram has had a similar “About this account” feature for some time.
