{
  "id": 16720488,
  "title": "X is nudging users to promote their posts with a pointing hand, and people are confused",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/x-is-nudging-users-to-promote-their-posts-with-a-pointing-hand-and",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-27T06:34:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/26/x-is-nudging-users-to-promote-their-posts-with-a-pointing-hand-and-people-are-confused/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the past day, a peculiar hand pointing towards the \"promote\" button has been appearing as users draft their posts on X. This seemingly odd addition has left users puzzled and frustrated. During this time of year, when Halloween is approaching, some speculate that this might be a prank to scare users. However, X has not confirmed this hypothesis. The reaction from users who wish to promote their posts and invest money has been even more negative, as they become discouraged after witnessing the hand. Dylan Abruscato, president of TBPN podcast, described this engagement tactic as \"the most Nikita-coded thing\" he has ever encountered, referring to the growth strategies employed by Nikita Bier, X's former chief product officer who left the platform in August. Peter Sellis, Bier's former supervisor and product head of Snap and Discord, recently took over as X's new product chief. The origin and purpose behind this mysterious hand are currently unknown, and X has been informed about the issue but has yet to comment.",
  "summary": "Whose hand is behind this travesty?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}