X Unveils New Features Amid Claims of Record Engagement and Community Backlash

X has introduced new notification prioritization and enhanced cashtag features, while simultaneously claiming record user engagement despite questionable metrics and facing backlash from the crypto community over algorithm revelations.

The platform formerly known as Twitter announced these updates in an effort to streamline user experience, particularly for power users receiving hundreds of notifications daily. However, contradictory usage statistics and controversial statements from X's head of product have raised questions about the platform's actual performance in early 2026.

Priority Notifications Target Power Users

X has rolled out a significant update to its notifications system, introducing a new "Priority" tab for iOS and web users. This feature highlights interactions from mutual follows and engagements from prominent accounts, replacing the previous "Verified" mention listing.

"Priority notifications essentially create a VIP section within your engagement stream," said Andrew Hutchinson, Content and Social Media Manager at Social Media Today. "The platform claims most active users are now verified, making the previous filter less valuable."

The new system includes media previews directly in the notifications stream, allowing users to see images and videos without opening individual posts. This streamlined approach aims to help users manage high volumes of engagement more efficiently.

For marketers and influencers who rely on X for audience interaction, this change could significantly improve workflow by surfacing the most important connections. Power users no longer need to sift through hundreds of notifications to find meaningful engagements.

X describes this as a "highly requested update" specifically designed for its most active community members. When implementing these notification changes, businesses should consider evaluating X's evolving platform benefits and limitations to determine if these updates align with their marketing strategy.

Enhanced Cashtags and Crypto Community Revolt

Alongside notification changes, X has expanded its cashtag functionality. Users can now access more comprehensive asset listings when entering a $cashtag and tap through for real-time price information and related mentions.

This update builds on previous partnerships with financial platforms like eToro (2023) and TradingView (2022). The enhanced cashtag system could potentially integrate with X's future financial services once XMoney launches.

However, these improvements come amid significant tension with the cryptocurrency community on X. Head of product Nikita Bier recently angered crypto enthusiasts by revealing that the platform's algorithm penalizes certain behaviors popular among crypto users.

Bier stated that replying to hundreds of posts daily with simple messages like "GM" (good morning) — a common practice in crypto circles — actually harms rather than helps account growth. This revelation sparked calls for Bier's removal from some crypto community members.

According to a recent report by Sensor Tower, engagement metrics across social platforms vary dramatically, making X's claims particularly noteworthy for analysis. Their data suggests that algorithm transparency has become increasingly important for user trust across all major networks.

Questionable Engagement Claims Raise Eyebrows

Perhaps most controversial are X's claims about user engagement. In his response to crypto users, Bier casually mentioned that "the average X user only views 20-30 posts per day" — a statistic that contradicts the platform's assertions of record growth.

For comparison, TikTok reports its users spend approximately 100 minutes daily in-app. If X users truly view only 20-30 posts per session, this suggests extremely limited engagement compared to competing platforms.

Despite this, X has made several bold claims about its performance in January 2026:

• Highest engagement days ever, even including the platform's time as Twitter
• New users spending 43% more time in-app, an all-time high
• Existing users spending 20% more time on the platform
• Downloads up 60%
• Subscriptions crossing the $1 billion mark

However, each of these statistics comes with significant caveats. The engagement calculations only apply to "attested iOS devices who authenticate a phone number on a major carrier," excluding Android users entirely. The subscription revenue likely represents cumulative lifetime earnings rather than annual figures.

Independent data firms like Similarweb have previously contradicted X's growth claims, noting they've seen no evidence of major surges outside of temporary interest sparked by news events.

Data Analysis Considerations

When evaluating X's metrics, marketers should consider:

• Sample bias: The exclusion of Android users skews results dramatically
• Contextual metrics: How "views" are counted may differ across platforms
• Verification methods: Independent verification of growth claims remains limited

Organizations measuring their social media marketing return on investment should carefully separate platform-provided metrics from actual business outcomes to avoid making decisions based on potentially inflated data.

What This Means for Users and Marketers

For regular X users, these updates may improve the platform experience, particularly for those managing significant engagement. The priority notifications system offers a clearer view of meaningful interactions, while enhanced cashtags provide more financial information for investors.

Marketers should approach X's engagement claims with caution. If users truly view only 20-30 posts per session, reaching target audiences through the platform could prove challenging, even with its claimed user base of 600 million.

The only officially verifiable metrics from X are its EU active user statistics, which showed a modest 7.5% increase in October after a year of declining numbers. While this indicates potential growth, it falls far short of the "record-breaking" territory X suggests.

For businesses using X for marketing, the value proposition remains audience-specific rather than volume-based. If your target demographic actively uses X, these new features could enhance your strategy regardless of overall platform performance.

Implementation Strategy

1. Use the Priority notification tab to identify and engage with your most valuable connections and influential followers

2. Explore enhanced cashtag functionality if your business operates in finance or cryptocurrency sectors

3. Adjust your engagement strategy based on algorithm insights, focusing on quality interactions rather than high-volume, low-value replies

Companies focused on comprehensive customer experience transformation should view X's feature changes as potential touchpoints for engagement rather than standalone solutions, integrating them into broader communication strategies.

The social media landscape continues evolving rapidly in 2026, with X's latest changes representing both opportunity and challenge for users navigating an increasingly complex digital environment.