January 3, 2025, 9:03 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Would you like to read the posts of pop stars, your favorite gamer, or the news medium of your choice on X (formerly Twitter) but prefer to remain invisible? TECHBOOK shows you how this is possible.
X, previously known as Twitter, has evolved into one of the major platforms for exchange and dialogue since its inception in 2006. Politicians comment on world events, large media companies are represented on the platform as are people of public interest – stars and influencers, but also scientists and philosophers. The basic concept of Twitter is that anyone with an account can comment on something. However, many complain that since the takeover by Elon Musk, the tone has become harsher and hate more present. Some people want to remove themselves from the line of fire without completely abandoning their own profile. In this case, a private X account can help. TECHBOOK explains how it works and how to set it up.
Private Profile Has Limited Functions
On its help page, X does not refer to a private account but to protected posts, but it means the same thing. (X has also abandoned the terms tweet and retweet.) By default, anyone registering with X for the first time will have a public profile. This means that anyone can follow the account without needing permission from the account owner. On the other hand, the posts of a public profile are not protected and are therefore visible to everyone and accessible for interaction.
However, similar to Instagram, you can decide at any time to set your account to private and thus protect your posts. However, this setting has a number of restrictions – both positive and negative. First of all, you retain control over who follows you. Anyone who wants to follow a private profile must send a follower request, which the account owner can confirm or reject. Your existing followers will automatically receive permission if you already have a public X account.
More Privacy Means More Passivity
The second consequence of a private account is that posts become visible only to approved followers. This also applies to previously public posts and permanent links that lead to posts that are now protected. This leads to a significant limitation: you can no longer freely participate in public debates. For example, if you want to react to the record-breaking GTA 6 announcement, the sender will not be able to see this reaction – unless they happen to be a follower of the private profile. Choosing a private X account relegates you to the role of a mere observer in public discourse.
However, third-party search engines – such as Google – cannot display the protected posts. And even the followers of a private X account cannot repost protected posts. Nevertheless, a resourceful individual might still take screenshots of protected posts to share them. If you wish to switch back from a private to a public profile, the process is straightforward. As soon as you change this status, the previously protected posts will all become publicly visible.
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How to Set Your X Account to Private
The transition from a public to a private X account is straightforward. The process is the same in the app and in the browser. Follow these instructions:
- Log in to your X account
- Click on the 3-dot menu “More”
- Navigate to “Settings and Privacy” and then to the “Privacy and Security” tab
- Choose “Audience, tagging, and media” and tick the box for “Protect your Tweets”
To revert this setting, simply uncheck the box, and your X account will once again be made public.