Why Can't You See the Person Who Liked Your Post on Twitter?

Twitter has recently changed its privacy settings, making likes hidden by default. This change has raised curiosity and confusion among users who wonder why they cannot always see who liked their posts.

Privacy Settings and Hidden Likes

As of late, Twitter has implemented a policy to hide likes for privacy reasons. This move was reported by CNET. While some interpret this as a genuine effort to enhance user privacy, others suspect it may be a cost-saving measure, as discussed by the former CEO, Elon Musk.

Accidental Likes and Reversals

Often, a like you can see might not have been intended as such. For instance, if someone liked your post accidentally and then reversed the action, you would still see the like count but no details about who liked it. This phenomenon has earned the nickname phantom likes.

Private Accounts and Likeness

Another reason for not seeing who liked your post could be that the liker has set their Twitter account as private. Users with private accounts do not make their activity visible to the public, except to those they have chosen as followers. This means if someone you don't follow liked your post, you might not see them in the list of likes.

Steps to Check Likes

If you suspect someone might have liked your post, follow these steps to check:

Open the tweet you think was liked. Tap the 'Likes' button. Scroll through the list of users who liked the post. If you see a private account, you won't be able to view who interacted with it.

Understanding Private Accounts

A private Twitter account is one that is not accessible to the public. Only followers of the account holder can see their tweets, retweets, likes, and replies. This setting is often chosen by users who want to maintain a level of privacy and control over their online presence.

Why Would a Private User Like Your Post?

Even if the liker has a private account, they might still see and like your post. There's no clear answer as to why a private user would like a public post. It could be an expression of support, a result of seeing the post through another user's feed, or simply browsing content. Nonetheless, opacity in such cases can lead to confusion.

Conclusion

The mystery of hidden likes and private accounts has made social interaction on Twitter a bit more complex. While these changes aim to enhance privacy for users, they can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and frustration. It's important to understand the settings and behaviors of both yourself and your followers to navigate these intricacies.