X (formerly Twitter) recently rolled out a county of origin feature. Currently, the only way you can see the account’s country is by clicking their “about this account” section, but there’s speculation that X may add a country flag similar to the blue verification checkmark beside each account’s name in the future.
Why the country of origin feature is GREAT!
The concept centers around the need to boost transparency and combat misinformation, using data like IP addresses and/or App Store connections. Foreign accounts posing as conservatives, liberals—even Native Americans—are driving division and manipulating opinions and even voters. The Planned Parenthood account that posts like crazy trying to garner support from Americans? They’re located in Germany.
It’s like when I tell you this is a photo I found on Zillow of the only bathroom in a house for sale in the US, you wouldn’t know it’s in my hometown. The writing over the sink’s mirror in English reveals that much. 😳
Why the country of origin feature isn’t so great…
Determining country of origin requires collecting and processing location-related data (e.g., IP addresses). Users worry about how this data is stored, used, or potentially shared with third parties. The feature’s reliance on IP data can be skewed by VPNs (virtual private networks that hide location), leading to incorrect country labels. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, hiding your online activities from ISPs, hackers, and surveillance — and most offer US as an option. (That means bad actors outside the US could still appear as located here when they aren’t.)
This raises concerns about misidentification or assumptions about a user’s location, potentially affecting their online credibility or exposing their VPN use, which some rely on for anonymity.
Just my opinion:
Dharma isn’t trying to pretend she’s a Chihuahua to sow discontent among other dog breeds or influence their opinions.
User accounts on social media shouldn’t be able to pretend to be something/somewhere they’re not just to stir shit either. This certainly isn’t a perfect fix… but it’s better than nothing.
The only information revealed about me by X is my country. The USA is a pretty big place and I don’t feel exposed when they share that detail. Legitimate accounts shouldn’t be alarmed that their location is pinpointed to a COUNTRY, should they? Currently, there’s no way to fully opt out and many don’t like that — but they can opt to change their country to a region making it even harder to locate the account’s owner.
My account has a blue check mark and I say bring on the country flag — I’m good with that too — and proud to be an American. If you’re tore down about your country of origin being exposed, you MIGHT be concerned because your intent is nefarious. If you hate it that much — simply delete your account.
What say you?
Now you know: In 2024 an Austrian neurosurgeon was fired after she let her 13-year-old daughter drill a hole into a patient’s skull during a surgery. Although the surgery was a success, one other specialist was also fired, and at least five other people involved in the procedure were investigated.