X/Twitter is removing its Circles feature by October 31

X/Twitter has announced that it will be disabling its Circles feature. The feature is set to be “deprecated” by the end of next month, leaving users with a significant change in how they share content on the platform.

By October 31, 2023, Twitter/X users will no longer have the option to restrict their posts to a personally curated circle of “friends”. Additionally, adding new users to such circles will no longer be possible. Instead, all future Twitter/X posts will be accessible to followers and the wider public, regardless of whether they are professional announcements or personal thoughts about any topic.

While users can still set their entire Twitter/X profile to private to prevent random individuals from reading and interacting with their posts, there will no longer be a method to filter which of their followers can see specific posts.

Read also: X(Twitter) launches Custom Likes, Hashmoji, and Hashfetti features

What it means for Twitter users

The fate of previous Circle posts remains unclear. Ideally, these posts will continue to be restricted to the users with whom they were originally shared. However, concerns exist about the possibility of these posts becoming public, potentially revealing personal thoughts, media, and private conversations to a broader audience, including employers and the general public.

Twitter’s decision to eliminate the Circles feature may signify a shift towards a more open and public-oriented platform, where users’ content will be accessible to a broader audience by default. However, it may raise concerns among users who value the privacy and exclusivity that Circles provide.

Since taking over and rebranding Twitter into X, Musk has introduced a flurry of new features and changes that are geared towards monetizing the platform or aligning it with his philosophy and commitment to advancing free speech and total freedom for everyone.

In July, Musk acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the company, stating, “We’re still negative cash flow, due to a ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus a heavy debt load. We need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else.”

Recently, the company took a step towards the launch of three innovative features: Custom Likes, Hashmoji, and Hashfetti. These branded tools are poised to revolutionize the way brands and advertisers connect with their audiences, aligning seamlessly with X’s overarching strategy of fostering enriched interactions while bolstering engagement and conversations.

Most recently, Musk announced that X is considering implementing a paywall for all users. During a live stream on X alongside Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk explained that this move is primarily aimed at countering the widespread use of bots on the platform.

“The single most important reason that we are moving to have a small monthly payment for the use of the X system, is it is the only way I could think of to combat vast armies of bots.”

Elon Musk

He believes that by introducing a payment system and giving priority to premium users’ posts, the platform can reduce the influence of these automated accounts.