X Is Testing Variable Video Upload Quality Options

One other element of X’s pivot to video is coming, with creators soon set to give you the option to pick the video quality that they wish to upload in.  

As shown in this instance, posted by X designer Andrea Conway, together with a toggle to permit or disallow downloads of their content, creators will even give you the option to pick variable upload quality, which could make it easier for people seeking to get their videos up on the platform quickly, or in low data situations.

Which might be a rare consideration of users outside the U.S., with many X users in developing markets still not in situations that enable them to upload full HD content, as a result of network capability, data plans, etc.

Though based on X owner Elon Musk users in these markets aren’t the major motivation.

Well, possibly, however the major motivation is to hasten video upload time, as required, with a purpose to keep X users updated on the most recent info.

It might be a handy choice to have, and with X seeking to put more emphasis on video content, in keeping with broader content consumption trends, providing more options is one other method to drive more usage, and ideally enhance X’s appeal to video creators.

You’ll note, also, the content warning option at the underside. That’s already energetic, and X has been attempting to push users so as to add their very own labels on this front, particularly on violent and disturbing content.

Which has grow to be more of a spotlight in recent days, as video content from various war zones flows into the X system. With fewer moderation staff to administer such, X is increasingly seeking to put the onus on users to mitigate the risks, each by adding labels to uploads, in addition to providing tools that enable users to administer their experience within the app.

The issue with this approach is that a variety of people, especially latest users, are likely unaware that they needs to be following the “Safety” account for official updates like this, or that such settings even exist. Which is why past Twitter management implemented more restrictions on such, but under Musk, X is looking for to take a more hands-off approach, again saving on labor costs, while also aligning together with his own free speech ethos.

That could lead on to some harmful situations, with users inadvertently exposed to especially confronting war footage. From one perspective, that may make sense, in that folks should concentrate on what’s happening, however it could also make users more hesitant to make use of X to follow such events, depending on their tolerance for graphic material.

But Elon is set to make X one of the best source of truth on what’s happening, at any given time, which is able to involve allowing certain content to stay up, even when some users find it disturbing.

Is that a greater approach?

The actual challenge on this front isn’t a lot that previous Twitter management implemented more moderation control over such, but why they did. In Musk’s view, this was all within the name of selective censorship, but over time, I think he’s going to search out out that there was more to their decision-making process than acting in self-interest.