Feature on this account: Is X championing transparency or just making promises?

In a digital space filled with fake accounts and coordinated campaigns, X has launched a new feature that could be a game-changer: About this account. It may seem simple on the surface, but it reflects a bold choice by the platform between transparency and ambiguity. In the following article, we will learn about it, its advantages, limitations, and what to expect from it.

What is the advantage of this account? Nikita Beer, head of product at X, first announced the feature on October 14, 2025, in an official post stating: “When you read content on X, you should be able to verify its accuracy in order to accurately understand the important issues happening in the world.”

Internal testing began in late October on employee files, and the public launch began on November 20-21, 2025.

When users click on the Join Date in the web or mobile app profile, they can access an About this account page that displays four key pieces of information.

This data includes the date the original account joined, the geographical location where the account is currently located, the number of times the username has been changed and the date of the last change, and the method of downloading the application (e.g., App Store, Google Play or Web).

According to TechCrunch reports from November 21, 2025, information about other accounts is not yet visible, possibly because Apple is giving users time to review their data to verify its accuracy and adjust settings before launching the display of information about others.

How does the feature work? The feature relies on tracking the protocol (IP) address that is recorded when the user connects to the platform. The data is linked to specialized geographic databases to determine the approximate location. The platform also records operating system and device information as metadata.

Communication patterns are analyzed over time periods to determine the primary location of activity. The data may be relatively broad and not precise, as users can choose between viewing the entire country, or just a wider geographic area such as North Africa or East Asia. This option is controlled from the Privacy and Security menu in the application settings.

What is the security purpose of launching a feature about this account? The feature aims to enable users to assess the authenticity of accounts; for example, if an account claims to be located in a particular US state but the data indicates a location abroad, this would alert them to suspicious activity.

It also helps in identifying fake accounts, bots, and accounts managed from abroad with the aim of influencing and stirring up discord in local communities.

In practice, the feature may reveal certain patterns, such as a large number of accounts claiming to represent one location while operating from another shared geographic location, or posting content from multiple accounts at very close times.

Accuracy issues and early problems Immediately after the launch, problems with the accuracy of the geographic data emerged, with users reporting errors in the information displayed: one indicated that his country of origin appeared as the United States despite residing in Canada, and others noticed errors in the account creation location.

X responded quickly through Nikita Bear to the Canadian user: We are fixing this now, and it appears that Starlink confused us. In another case, he explained that a user used a VPN when registering in 2022, which left a footprint affecting the geographic data.

These incidents illustrate an important fact: geographic databases can be inaccurate, especially with VPNs or satellite services like Starlink. Even X itself faced these challenges in the early days, confirming that 100% accuracy is not guaranteed.

VPN warning Engineers revealed that X is working on an additional feature that may display a warning when VPN use is detected, with the message: “The country or region may not be accurate.” However, this feature is still under development, and it's unclear when it will be released. The feature will not block the VPN; rather, it will add an indicator of potential data inaccuracies.

Protection and privacy options X provides users with the freedom to choose between displaying the entire country or a wider geographic area. It was originally intended for countries where freedom of expression might be limited, but the feature is available to all users, including the United States.

Users can also reduce location tracking by not enabling location services on the app or not granting permissions; these permissions can be controlled through system settings.

What is the difference between it and Instagram and Facebook? The feature about this account on X is not a unique innovation, as other platforms have launched similar features such as:

Instagram: About This Account Instagram has implemented the feature since 2020, but with limited information: only the creation date and the number of times the name has been changed. Unlike X, it does not display geographical data or upload information. The goal here is to verify identity, not to detect suspicious activities.

Facebook: Page Transparency Facebook focuses on administrative transparency: it clarifies the location of page administrators, for pages only, not personal accounts, is geared towards accountability and political campaigns, and does not provide historical information about accounts.

Is this a genuine game-changer or just a superficial step? The feature about this account is not just a technical tool provided by X; it represents a shift in how social media platforms deal with trust and responsibility. When a platform chooses to show data instead of hiding it, it answers a fundamental question every user asks: Can I trust this account?

The answer is not perfect, as the feature is under development, the geographic data is not 100% accurate, and access is currently limited to your account only, but that does not diminish its importance.

With the proliferation of fake accounts, coordinated campaigns, and misinformation, a platform providing additional information is far better than complete ambiguity, even if incomplete. A user who sees an account claiming to be from New York but operating from Moscow will think twice before trusting what it publishes.

The real future of the feature comes when X allows users to see information about other accounts, not just their own.

Then it will transform from a personal tool for understanding your account into a powerful collective tool for uncovering suspicious patterns, activities, and coordinated campaigns. At that point, it will truly become clear whether the feature will become a real game-changer or just a superficial step towards transparency.

X has begun its journey towards transparency, realizing that responsibility begins with clarity. The real question now is not whether the feature will work, but whether the platform will continue in this direction or retreat at the first obstacle.

Users, regulators, and legislators are all watching closely for what comes next, because choosing transparency is not a one-time decision; it is an ongoing commitment that requires consistency and seriousness.