Social media platform X has implemented a new transparency measure designed to clarify when government mandates restrict user content. The update, announced on September 21, 2026, integrates visibility restrictions due to local laws directly into the platform’s “Under the Hood” diagnostic menu.
According to the company, this addition aims to mitigate accusations of shadowbanning by providing users with concrete data on why their posts may have reduced reach. The updated feature identifies the specific country that requested the restriction and lists the individual posts subject to scrutiny.
To access these details, users must meet specific eligibility criteria: their profiles must have been active for over a year and contain at least ten posts within the previous month. Once qualified, users can view the information, though the data is currently presented in a dense JSON file format rather than a simplified interface.
Originally launched in limited testing during August, the Under the Hood feature was intended to shed light on the algorithms driving the For You feed and any content labels applied by the platform. Industry observers have noted that while the raw data presentation is not immediately intuitive, offering visibility into previously opaque moderation practices represents a significant step toward accountability.
Active for a year and ten posts? Sounds like they’re hiding this from new users who need it most. Weird eligibility requirement.
Shadowban claims were always frustrating because there was zero proof. This feels like a genuine step forward for platform transparency.
Is it really transparency if I need a degree in data science to read the JSON file? Give us a readable summary please!
Finally, some accountability from X. Raw JSON is ugly, but at least we know when the government is pulling strings.