By Ghazali Ibrahim
A recent update to X, formerly Twitter is generating concerns among social media users as it reveals key profile details including location, username history and app access for every user.
This update exposes the real face behind major posts that stirred up controversy over the years, fueling ethnic division, insecurities anxiety and glorifying yahoo boys lifestyles in an unimaginable places.
Under the guise of augmenting transparency, X rollout “About This Account” panel which allows users to click on the “joined” date in a profile and see where the account is based, how many times the username has been changed and how it accesses the application.
The revelations are alarming for Nigeria in particular because accounts that frequently post about kidnapping, banditry or ethnic bigotry which are targeted at Nigerian audience are traced back to operations in India, Eastern Europe and parts of West Africa.
It’s also alarming that Nigerians are impersonating foreigns using different accounts are also exposed with this new feature.
Nigeria is entering a run-up to the 2027 general election and different narrative around insecurity, ethnic bigotry and cyber fraud are being weaponised online. This feature gives ordinary users the power to flag accounts with suspicious origin or multiple identity switches.
However, a major concern is alarming. While the update aims to reduce bad actors and encourage online sanitisation, it also risks exposing users of VPNs or activists in repressive settings.
