X tests shadowban checker tool and opens up more of its ranking algorithm

X is testing a new feature that could give users a way to verify whether their posts are being quietly suppressed by the platform's algorithm. The tool, currently available only to a small group of testers, appears as a new "under the hood" page in the app's settings.

Users who get access can download data tied to their account and search through it for information about "visibility-limiting labels" affecting their posts. According to details shared by X on GitHub, the download doesn't provide per-post statistics. Instead, it shows aggregate statistics from the past month about labels that impact the visibility of an account and its posts.

The announcement came alongside a broader update: X is open-sourcing more components of the ranking algorithm that powers the "for you" timeline. Keith Coleman, X's VP of Product, described the changes as "an unprecedented level of transparency into the X algorithm."

But actually making sense of the data may be a challenge for many users. A demonstration shared by @cb_doge, also known as Doge Designer, shows what the "under the hood" download looks like in practice. The video reveals a dense set of technical parameters that would likely require some expertise to interpret.

The move is part of X's ongoing effort to address long-standing complaints about shadowbanning — a practice where posts are made less visible without the user being explicitly notified. While the tool doesn't offer a simple "yes or no" answer about whether a specific post was suppressed, it does give users more insight into how the algorithm treats their content.

For now, the feature remains in testing, and X hasn't announced when it will be rolled out more broadly. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on the timeline for wider availability.