If you’ve observed a scarcity of news articles while browsing through [X](https://mashable.com/category/twitter), there could be a simple explanation: the platform seems to be intentionally limiting their reach.

On November 24, [Elon Musk](https://mashable.com/category/elon-musk) alluded to this action when he responded to a user on X — the platform previously recognized as Twitter — who asserted that posts with links were being restricted. This implies that fewer articles from credible news outlets are reaching users’ feeds.

Paul Graham, a well-known figure with approximately 2 million followers, denounced this strategy, commenting, “The downgrading of tweets containing links is Twitter’s major flaw.” He continued, “What attracts me to Twitter is to stay informed, and that’s not achievable without links.”

Musk responded to Graham, seemingly validating the assertion. He stated, “Just compose a description in the original post and place the link in the replies. This just prevents lazy linking.”

Musk’s recommendation raises questions. If an individual is disseminating news, it seems reasonable to provide a direct link for complete context. Yet, links redirect users away from the platform, which may clarify Musk’s inclination for summaries in posts with links tucked away in replies. Ultimately, he is prompting users to provide information without facilitating easy departures from X.

Musk also shared a post suggesting users publish content directly on X rather than linking to external sources, as this could lessen the post’s visibility. This bolsters the idea that X is deprioritizing posts that contain outside links.

This isn’t the first instance of X being accused of manipulating the visibility of links. Last year, *The Washington Post* [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/15/twitter-x-links-delayed/) that X purposefully slowed down links to competitors that Musk opposed, such as *The New York Times* and Facebook.

In the meantime, X is experiencing increased competition from platforms like Bluesky, which has [seen a rise in users](https://mashable.com/article/bluesky-gaining-ground-on-competitor-meta-threads) following recent political developments and Musk’s outspoken support for President-elect Donald Trump. Users on Bluesky have [noted improved engagement](https://mashable.com/article/bluesky-engagement-vs-twitter), and X’s evident restriction of links may prompt even more individuals to seek alternatives.