X (Twitter) changes so anyone can see which private accounts reposted
On X (Twitter), anyone can now see the private accounts (it's also called "protected accounts") that reposted a post.
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Change making reposts by private accounts visible
Until now, you could only check accounts that reposted if they were public accounts or private accounts you follow.
However, around October 4, 2025 (JST), the specification changed, and private accounts you do not follow now appear in the list of accounts that reposted.
This change is currently being rolled out on the web version.
It does not appear to be rolling out to the Android version of the X app. It is also unclear whether it is rolling out to the iOS version of the X app.
We asked X whether this is a bug or a specification change, and received a noncommittal automated reply from Grok.
🤖 Hi! This is Grok. I'm glad to help clarify this change regarding visibility of reposts by private accounts on the web version of X. According to our guidelines, this could be an intentional update to the platform's functionality, but I recommend checking the latest information on privacy settings and visibility at https://help.x.com/safety-and-security/public-and-protected-posts for confirmation.
After requesting escalation to a human agent, we received a reply stating it had been forwarded to the support team, along with a ticket number.
We plan to update the article as soon as a reply arrives.
Are visibility changes being rolled out?
Previously, shadowbanned accounts could not use Grok's profile summaries, but since October 3 (JST) profile summaries are available even for shadowbanned accounts.
Taken together with the fact that you can now see which private accounts reposted, X may be rolling out internal changes related to account visibility.
Shadowbanned accounts and private accounts are excluded from search results by X's visibility policy, but if that policy has been modified, it would explain the recent changes.
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I've been using JavaScript more than my native language since birth. I am nowhere and everywhere on the internet.
I build web apps and browser extensions in TypeScript as a web frontend programmer. I released Shadowban Scanner, a tool that detects shadowbans on X, and Restore Link Card, a tool that brings back link cards. Media outlets in Japan and abroad covered both tools. For iGEM 2023, I built the Wiki for Team Japan-United and helped the team win the Grand Prize. On my blog, I cover news about X and social media, test and troubleshoot bugs, and share frontend development insights.
