How to Change the Twitter Algorithm

You can tell Twitter what you want to see instead of being stuck with a feed that doesn't serve you. By making a few simple adjustments, you can shape both the content that appears on your timeline and how your own tweets are shown to others. This guide will walk you through exactly how to take back control of your feed and create content the algorithm wants to promote.

How to Change the Twitter (X) Algorithm for Your Feed

First, let's focus on personalizing what you see every time you open the app. The most common complaint about X is the "For You" feed feeling irrelevant or overwhelming. The good news is, you have several tools at your disposal to fix it, from flipping a simple switch to training the algorithm on your exact preferences.

Switch to the Chronological "Following" Timeline

The single most effective way to change the algorithm is to turn it off. X gives you two timeline options:

• For You: This is the default, algorithm-driven feed. It shows you a mix of tweets from accounts you follow, topics you might like, and other content it thinks will keep you engaged.
• Following: This is a simple, reverse-chronological timeline of tweets only from the accounts you follow. No recommendations, no suggested posts - just the people you chose to see, in the order they tweeted.

Switching is easy:

On Desktop:

1. Go to your homepage.
2. At the top of your timeline, you'll see two tabs: "For you" and "Following."
3. Simply click "Following" to switch to the chronological feed. X will remember your choice for future visits on that device.

On Mobile (iOS and Android):

1. Open the app.
2. At the top of your screen, you’ll see "For you" and "Following."
3. Swipe right to switch over to the "Following" tab.

Using the "Following" tab is a fantastic way to reconnect with the people you originally came to the platform to hear from. It cuts out the noise and gives you a more predictable, controlled experience.

Train Your "For You" Feed to Be Smarter

If you prefer the discovery aspect of the "For You" feed but want it to serve you better content, you need to give it clear signals about what you like and dislike. Here's how to become its best teacher.

1. Mute Words, Phrases, and Accounts

Muting is your best friend for removing topics you just don't want to see without having to unfollow people. Have you had enough of a specific TV show, news event, or tech trend? Mute the keywords. Is there an account you want to stay connected to but whose content is flooding your feed? Mute the account.

How to Mute a Word or Phrase:

• Go to Settings and privacy >, Privacy and safety >, Mute and block.
• Add the word, hashtag, or phrase you want to avoid. You can also mute a specific user for good with @username in muted words. You can set the duration for how long it's muted.

Muted words will be removed from your notifications and your "For You" timeline.

2. Use the "Not interested" Option

This is a direct, powerful signal to the algorithm. When you see a recommended tweet you don’t like, you can tell X immediately.

• Tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner of the tweet.
• Select "Not interested in this Tweet."

Doing this routinely teaches the algorithm what not to show you, which is just as important as showing it what you like.

3. Manage Your Topics

X automatically has you following certain "Topics" based on your activity. A quick audit can massively improve your feed.

• Go to Settings and privacy >, Privacy and safety >, Content you see.
• Select Topics.
• Here, you’ll see a list of Topics you currently follow. Go through and unfollow any that are no longer relevant to your interests.
• You can also browse and follow new Topics you're genuinely interested in, which gives the algorithm positive signals to work with.

4. Create and Use Lists

Lists are a seriously underrated superpower on X. A List is a curated timeline of specific accounts that you create yourself. Instead of relying on the main algorithm, you can build your own mini-timelines focused on specific subjects.

Example: You could create a private List called "Marketing News" and add all your favorite marketing experts to it. Now, whenever you want to catch up on just that topic, you can view that List’s timeline - no algorithmic noise included. You can create lists for clients, hobbies, breaking news sources, or friends.

How to Make Your Content More Visible to the Algorithm

Now, let's flip the script. How do you get your own tweets seen by more people? This isn't about "beating" the algorithm but rather understanding what it rewards and creating content that aligns with its goals. The platform’s primary objective is to keep users engaged and on the app for as long as possible. If your content helps accomplish that, it will be rewarded with more reach.

Key Signals the Algorithm Looks For

The algorithm weighs different types of engagement. While likes are good, they're relatively passive. The most valuable signals are those that indicate active interest and conversation:

• Replies: The algorithm heavily prioritizes content that sparks conversation. Replies are a massive signal that your tweet is interesting.
• Time Spent (Dwell Time): If someone stops scrolling to read your tweet or watch your video, that's a positive signal.
• Quote Tweets: This shows that someone found your tweet interesting enough to add their own commentary and share it with their audience.
• Profile Clicks and Follows from a Tweet: A very strong indicator that your content was so compelling it made someone want to learn more about you.
• Likes and Reposts: These are still important signals, but think of them as the base layer, not the ultimate goal.

Actionable Strategies for Higher Reach

Knowing what the algorithm likes is one thing, putting it into practice is another. Here are concrete strategies you can use today.

1. Spark Conversations, Don't Just Broadcast

Shift your mindset from making announcements to starting discussions. End your tweets with open-ended questions that are easy for people to answer.

Instead of this: "Our new blog post on content marketing is out now!"

Try this: "We just dropped a new blog post on content marketing. What’s the one content strategy that’s working best for you right now?"

The second version actively invites a response, signaling to the algorithm that your content facilitates community interaction.

2. Prioritize Native Video and Images

Tweets with rich media consistently outperform text-only posts. Why? They're more eye-catching, stopping the scroll and increasing "dwell time."

• Native Video is King: Upload videos directly to X instead of linking to YouTube or Vimeo. Platforms always prioritize content that keeps users on their site. A 30-second native video will almost always get more reach than a link to a 10-minute YouTube video.
• Use High-Quality Images and GIFs: A clear, relevant image or a well-timed GIF can make your tweet stand out in a crowded feed.

3. Write for Skimmers

People scroll fast. Make your tweets easy to digest with clear formatting.

• Keep paragraphs short (1-2 sentences).
• Use line breaks to create white space.
• Use bullet points or numbered lists to break down information.
• Use emojis to add visual interest, but don’t overdo it.

A wall of text is an instant skip for most users.

4. Engage Genuinely with Others

The algorithm doesn’t just look at what happens on your tweets, it looks at your behavior across the platform. Actively replying to other accounts in your industry is one of the best ways to grow.

When you leave a thoughtful comment on a popular account’s tweet, you're exposing yourself to their audience. Someone might see your reply, find it insightful, and click on your profile, then follow you. It shows the algorithm you're an active participant in conversations, not just a broadcaster.

5. Don't Post External Links in Original Tweets

Since social platforms want to keep users on-site, tweets with external links often have their reach suppressed. If you need to share a link to your blog, product, or another site, use this strategy:

1. Write your main tweet with the hook and context. Post it.
2. Immediately reply to your own tweet with the external link.

This allows your original tweet to get maximum algorithmic reach while still providing the link to interested followers.

6. Be Consistent

You don't need to tweet every hour, but you do need to show up regularly. A consistent posting schedule, whether it's once a day or five times a day, signals to the algorithm that you're a reliable source of content. Inconsistent creators are less likely to be prioritized in the feed.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, influencing the X algorithm - both for your feed and your content - is about being intentional. You can create a more valuable experience by actively curating your timeline, and you can boost your visibility by creating content that genuinely engages people and starts conversations.

Mastering the algorithm requires consistency, and planning your content is a huge part of that. Here at Postbase, we built our visual calendar to make that planning simple. By scheduling conversation-starting content ahead of time and seeing your whole strategy at a glance, you can focus less on the logistics and more on creating tweets that the algorithm - and your audience - will love.

```