GoKawiilX tests animated arm pointing users to paid 'Promote' button
X has begun showing some users an animated hand that reaches across the screen toward the 'promote' button while composing posts, according to screenshots shared by users including The Verge's Tom Warren. The feature appears limited to verified or X Premium subscribers, and promoting a post extends its reach to non-followers based on location, interests or demographics, with promoted posts labeled 'promoted' or 'ad'.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The intrusive prompt suggests X may be leaning harder on paid promotion tools to boost ad revenue, even as CEO Elon Musk has publicly criticized overly aggressive advertising tactics. User reactions calling the animation 'jarring' and comparing it to a 'Halloween gag' indicate the rollout could backfire by annoying the very users X relies on for engagement.
- X is testing an animated arm nudging users toward the paid 'promote' feature while composing posts.
- The feature appears restricted to verified or X Premium subscribers so far.
- User reactions on the platform have been largely negative, describing the animation as jarring or gimmicky.
Source: theverge.com — Andrew Liszewski, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “This is how badly X wants you to pay to promote your posts”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.