X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has stirred up controversy after unveiling a new feature that exposes a user's location.
The feature has ignited heated debates across the digital streets, as the update introduces an "About This Account" panel now visible on most profiles, a move X says is meant to boost "clarity" on the platform and curb bots, spam accounts, foreign influence operations, and fake profiles posing as real users.
The transparency tool lays out details such as where an account is based, how many times its username has changed, when the user first joined the platform, and even how the app was downloaded.
According to X, the aim is to limit disinformation and inauthentic activity, especially at a time when AI-driven content is dominating daily online interactions.
X has rolled out an "About this account" section that reveals an account's location and history to help spot fakes.
- War Intel (@warintel4u) November 23, 2025
It's already exposing misleading profiles.
2 Israeli accounts are located in South Asia and India. pic.twitter.com/XY35S7PGSX
This isn't entirely new in the social media world. Instagram has long offered a similar "About This Account" feature, allowing its users to peek behind the curtain and identify potential imposters.
According to BBC: "..Dozens of high-engagement accounts on X have been accused of misleading users following the roll-out of a new transparency feature that shows user locations..."
In Kenya, the rollout has sparked a storm of reactions. Some users are concerned about privacy, while others applaud the transparency, especially after it emerged that several supposedly "international" accounts were actually operating from within the country.
One X profile with over 52,000 followers, which brands itself as a "proud democrat and a professional MAGA hunter," was revealed by BBC Verify to be based in Kenya.
Another popular account, "IvankaNews", a fan page describing itself as dedicated to the U.S. First Daughter and boasting over a million followers, turned out to be running from Nigeria, despite its heavy pro-Trump messaging.
A misinformation expert, Darren Linvill from Clemson University's Media Forensic Hub, explained that "...there are often mixed motivations why an account may not be transparent about its location..."
Some users hide such information for financial gain, personal safety, or even fraudulent activities like phishing.
Despite X's big transparency push, researchers still warn that users may find ways to bypass the feature through VPNs, meaning the potential for "manipulated" accounts remains high.