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There’s been a lot of noise lately about “gaming the algorithm” on X.
Post more.
Reply everywhere.
Say anything, as long as you’re visible.
But over the past few days, it’s become much clearer what the system rewards and what it penalizes.
If you’re a creator on X, this is worth paying attention to.
The myth that’s hurting creators
A few months ago, a new myth started circulating:
You need to reply hundreds of times per day to grow.
On the surface, it sounds logical. More activity = more visibility.
But according to the platform, this is where things go wrong.
When creators spend most of their activity replying “gm”, dropping emojis, or posting short, low-effort replies, something happens:
They burn their reach on noise.
By the time they post something meaningful - an idea, a project, a thoughtful video - it barely gets shown.
That’s not the algorithm being unfair.
That’s the algorithm doing its job.
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… back to the article 👇
Why low-effort activity backfires
Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, put it bluntly:
“Each time you post 3-word slop, you dig yourself deeper in algorithmic hell.”
That doesn’t mean replies are bad.
It means empty replies are treated like spam.
There’s an important distinction here:
Real discussion people actually read → net positive
Irrelevant replies with no connection to the post → ranked like spam
The system isn’t counting how active you are.
It’s evaluating whether your activity adds value.
The algorithm is not what it used to be
Another key detail that changes everything:
The algorithm was rebuilt from scratch by the xAI team and now runs on massive infrastructure. It doesn’t rely on simple rules anymore.
It:
reads posts
watches videos
measures time spent
looks for patterns of genuine interest
This means shortcuts don’t last.
What worked two years ago - reply farming, engagement loops, filler content - now works against you.
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… the article continues below 👇
So what does “working with the algorithm” look like?
Here are practical guidelines you can actually use:
1. Be selective with replies
Reply when you have something to add.
Skip the rest.
Ask yourself:
Would someone stop to read this reply?
If not, don’t post it.
2. Protect your original posts
Your original content needs room to breathe.
If your day is filled with low-value replies, your best posts pay the price.
One solid post + a few meaningful interactions beats constant noise.
3. Add context - always
A post with no explanation gives the system nothing to evaluate.
Whether it’s text, an image, or a video:
explain why it matters
add perspective
frame the idea
Context helps both people and the algorithm understand what you’re sharing.
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…Back to topic 👇
4. Optimize for time spent, not volume
The system cares deeply about whether people:
stop
read
watch
engage
Ten people reading carefully beats a hundred scrolling past.
5. Think like a KOL, not a commenter
Followers react.
KOLs contribute.
The algorithm favors accounts that:
introduce ideas
explain things clearly
start conversations
Not accounts that only orbit others.
One thing is for sure: the algorithm isn’t your enemy
The algorithm isn’t out to get you.
It’s trying to surface content that:
people actually want to read
people spend time with
people engage with meaningfully
If you slow down, add context, and focus on value, you stop fighting it and start benefiting from it.
Make the algorithm work for you, not against you.
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Karata♡