In a bid to improve the management of private communities on its platform, X has adopted a feature that’s currently used across many Facebook Groups: required questions. This new feature allows admins of private Communities on X to require users to answer a question when they request to join, in addition to agreeing to the group’s rules.
How the Feature Works
The answers to the questions could help admins and moderators decide who should be able to join and offer some minimal protection against spammers and bots, who could disrupt their group with unwelcome posts. This feature is not unlike what’s available on Facebook Groups, where admins can require users to answer multiple questions before being able to join.
The Benefits of Required Questions
This feature could potentially evaluate Communities on X to have a more exclusive status, where only some people are allowed in, as admins weigh their responses to determine their worthiness. On the flip side, however, it could also allow for groups that toe the line of X’s terms and policies by keeping people out who might flag or report the group’s content.
Comparison with Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups offers a similar questions feature, though it’s much more robust. Admins can require users to answer multiple questions before being able to join, as well as insist they agree to their group’s own specific set rules. Some groups even quiz prospective members on what the rules state to ensure they have read them.
The Limitations of Communities on X
While anyone can make a Facebook Group, building and running Communities on X is a feature that’s limited to X Premium subscribers as only ‘verified’ users can create a Community. Verification is the flagship feature of X’s paid subscription. Joining Communities, however, is open to all X users.
The Broader Implications
This move has been seen as interesting, given that Communities have not been among the numerous features that got the chopping block under Elon Musk’s ownership. Since the Tesla and SpaceX exec took over Twitter/X, he’s axed quite a few features and services, including its newsletter platform Revue, support for ad-free news articles, support for third-party clients, and its private Circle feature for sharing with friends.
The Future of Communities on X
It’s not clear what larger vision X has in store for its groups feature or if they’ll ever become a more prominent part of X’s service. The feature currently feels like an underdeveloped feature that doesn’t quite fit into the fast-flowing timeline on X, offering a quieter and more isolated space to post about a topic or theme.
Related Topics
Apps
As TikTok faces a US shutdown, here are some alternative apps to check out:
- Instagram: A popular social media platform that offers a range of features, including video sharing and e-commerce capabilities.
- Snapchat: A messaging app that allows users to send disappearing photos and videos.
- TikTok alternatives: Byte, Triller, or Rizzle.
Communities
More teens report using ChatGPT for schoolwork, despite the tech’s faults:
- ChatGPT: An AI-powered chatbot that can be used for a range of tasks, including homework help and language translation.
- Duolingo: A language-learning app that offers interactive lessons and exercises.
As TikTok faces a US shutdown, here are some alternative apps to check out:
- Twitter: A social media platform that allows users to share short messages (tweets) with their followers.
- Facebook: A social media platform that allows users to share updates, photos, and videos with their friends.
Communities on X
The Apple Community has 52,500 members, Tech Twitter has 29,500 members, The Design Sphere has 117,000 members, and The Community has 23,100 members.
