X's Location Feature Reveals Account Origins

According to reports from multiple tech media outlets, X (formerly known as Twitter) recently launched a new feature called "About This Account," aimed at enhancing platform transparency. This feature publicly displays information such as the account's registration date, geographic location, username change history, and client source.

🔍 Purpose and Access Method

The primary goal of this feature is to help users assess the authenticity of accounts and combat bot accounts that often imitate real people and spread misinformation. Product Head Nikita Bier stated that this is "an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square."

• How to Access: To view this information for an account, simply click on the date next to "Joined" in the profile, which will bring up a detailed information page.

• Privacy Settings: To accommodate different user needs, X allows users to choose, in the "Privacy and Safety" settings, whether to display their precise country or only a broader region. This is particularly important for users in areas with restricted speech to protect their safety.

🌍 Discoveries Following the Feature Launch

After the feature went live, it quickly became a "detective tool" for users, leading to some interesting discoveries.

• "Patriotic Accounts" Abroad: Many accounts claiming to be "American patriots" or supporters of the MAGA movement showed actual geographic locations outside the United States, such as Eastern Europe, Thailand, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. For example, an account named "@1776General_" with over 140,000 followers was listed as based in Turkey.

• "On-the-Ground Reporters in Gaza": Some accounts claiming to be "local journalists in Gaza" were shown to be based in Poland. For instance, the account "@AbujomaaGaza," which claimed to be reporting from Gaza, was displayed as based in Poland.

⚠️ Accuracy and Controversy

It is important to note that the location information displayed by this feature is not 100% accurate.

• Technical Reasons: Nikita Bier acknowledged that the feature still has some "rough edges" to smooth out. For some older accounts, changes in IP address ranges over time may lead to inaccurate registration location information. Additionally, the use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), international travel, and other factors can also affect location determination.

• Official Account Controversy: A notable example was when a screenshot circulated showing the official X account of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a creation location marked as Israel, sparking widespread controversy. The DHS issued a statement firmly denying this, and Bier clarified that it was "misinformation," explaining that it was due to incorrect data for older accounts. He emphasized that the DHS account's IP address has always been in the United States. The location for the DHS account has since been corrected to "United States."

💎 In Conclusion

In summary, the "About This Account" feature is an interesting step by X toward greater information transparency. It acts like a sudden spotlight, revealing some previously hidden "actors" but also exposing some technical flaws. While enjoying the "detective" fun, it's important to approach the information with a critical eye.