X has formally open-sourced the code related to how posts are ranked for exposure in the platform’s “For You” recommendation timeline, while also launching a new transparency tool that allows users to see whether an account or post has been assigned labels that may restrict visibility.
According to X, the goal is to let users make their own judgment about whether the platform is limiting the reach of their content, whether the recommendation system is fair, and why they are seeing specific content.
Two transparency features launched together
X also introduced a transparency page called “Under the Hood.” Eligible users can use the page to review labels applied to their account and posts over the past month and download the related data.
The company described the two releases as “two complementary pieces of the puzzle”:
- The open-sourced code shows how the “For You” timeline is generated, including content labels that affect post exposure and how those labels work.
- The transparency tool lets users check whether their own account or posts carry restriction labels that may affect visibility.
Third-party experts reviewed the release
X said it invited third-party recommendation-system experts to review and test the code release in advance so the disclosed information would be clearer and more useful.
The company also said it will update these transparency mechanisms on a regular basis as its recommendation algorithms continue to evolve.
Pilot access is limited for now
The features are still in a pilot phase and are only available to randomly selected eligible accounts. The initial test group includes users whose accounts are more than one year old and who have published more than 10 posts in the past month.
X said it plans to expand access gradually based on user feedback.