X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, is set to launch a new feature called "Starterpacks," mirroring a popular function on Bluesky that suggests users to follow based on their interests. Nikita Bier, head of product at X, announced the upcoming feature in a post on the platform Wednesday, stating that it aims to connect users with accounts aligned with their interests across categories such as News, Politics, Fashion, Technology, Business Finance, Health Fitness, Gaming, Stocks, and Memes.
Unlike Bluesky's "Starter Packs," which allow any user to create and share curated lists, X's version will be internally generated. According to Bier's post, X has spent months analyzing data to identify top posters in various niches and countries to compile these lists. This indicates that the recommendations will be based on X's internal data and algorithms, rather than individual user recommendations.
The introduction of "Starterpacks" reflects a growing trend in social media to improve user onboarding and content discovery. By providing curated lists of accounts to follow, platforms aim to reduce the "blank slate" problem that new users often face, encouraging engagement and platform stickiness. Bluesky's success with its community-driven Starter Packs likely influenced X's decision to develop a similar feature.
While the concept is similar, the implementation differs significantly. Bluesky's decentralized approach allows for a diverse range of perspectives and community-driven curation, while X's centralized approach gives the platform greater control over the recommended content. This difference could impact the types of accounts that are promoted and the overall user experience.
The "Starterpacks" feature is scheduled to roll out to all X users in the coming weeks, according to Bier. The impact of this feature on user engagement and content discovery remains to be seen, but it represents a significant effort by X to improve the platform's onboarding experience and connect users with relevant content.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment