X Reveals the Secret Formula Behind Viral Post Reach

Adshine.pro09/10/202510 views
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X has released its latest breakdown of how it ranks posts in order to maximize user engagement, publishing the full codebase behind its “For You” timeline — the primary feed most users encounter on the platform.

 

While you can still switch to the “Following” feed if you prefer a chronological view (and many likely do), the For You feed reveals what X sees as the strongest drivers of engagement, and what the algorithm prioritizes in keeping users active in the app.

 

So what, exactly, are the key factors?

 

Broadly, they remain consistent with what we’ve seen before. But X’s documentation provides useful detail that’s important to note for anyone shaping their content strategy. According to the company’s latest disclosures, the ranking signals and their relative weighting (out of 100) are:

 

  • The probability a user replies to a post and the author then responds (+75)
  • The probability the user replies to a post (+13.5)
  • The likelihood the user opens the author’s profile and likes or replies to a post (+12.0)
  • The chance the user enters the conversation thread and replies or likes a post (+11)
  • The probability the user clicks into a conversation and remains for at least two minutes (+10)
  • The likelihood of a retweet (+1.0)
  • The likelihood of a like (+0.5)
  • For videos, the probability the user watches at least half the clip (+0.005)

 

As the numbers make clear, sparking conversation — especially direct exchanges between author and audience — is the most powerful driver of visibility. That’s why X heavily prioritizes posts from accounts you interact with regularly, while also offering a roadmap for how to increase exposure: focus on generating replies. Easier said than done, of course, since most users never post at all. But the algorithm’s emphasis is unambiguous.

 

Beyond those individual signals, other general factors also carry weight. Analyst Alex Finn has outlined the main trends:

 

Boosted by the algorithm:

 

  • Video posts, especially when viewers watch beyond 10 seconds
  • Post dwell time
  • Quotes and bookmarks
  • Verified status
  • “Viral” content, which helps subsequent posts gain traction

 

Penalized by the algorithm:

 

  • Offensive text (up to 80% reach reduction)
  • Offensive or inappropriate usernames
  • ALL CAPS posts
  • Posts containing links
  • Negative user feedback, such as “show less often,” blocks, mutes, or reports

 

Most of this is consistent with the platform’s past practices, though the penalty for including links is now harsher. Notably, X hasn’t defined what constitutes “offensive” content, leaving that category somewhat opaque.

 

Penalties also accumulate into an overall “reputation score,” meaning that one infraction can limit reach for an extended period. Accounts may be flagged with labels like “Low-quality,” “Spam,” “Toxicity,” “Untrusted URL,” “NSFW,” or “Gore.” Repeat mentions of another user handle can also trigger restrictions — effectively a shadowban.

 

So what does this mean in practice?

 

The winning formula is straightforward: prioritize video, encourage replies, and engage with people who respond. That combination boosts both individual post visibility and ongoing reach. Avoid all-caps shouting, offensive language, or excessive link-sharing, since these reduce exposure.

 

The challenge for publishers, of course, is that link suppression undermines efforts to drive users back to owned sites. Elon Musk has made it clear, however, that he prefers to keep people inside X rather than funneling traffic elsewhere. It may not benefit external publishers, but it aligns with X’s push to maximize in-app time.

 

And looming over all of this is Musk’s insistence that Grok AI will eventually take over ranking and relevance judgments, replacing much of the existing code. For now, though, these are the signals that determine what people see in their feeds.

 

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