What Is a Like on X?
A like is the heart icon under a post on X. One tap tells the author you enjoyed it and adds one to the post's like count. It is the lightest form of engagement on the platform.
Since June 2024, likes are private: only you can see the posts you have liked, while a post's author can still see who liked their own posts and everyone sees the like count, as TIME reported when X made the change.
Example
You read a founder's post about their first $1,000 month and tap the heart. They see your like in their notifications, the count ticks up by one, and the post lands in your private Likes tab.
Why it matters for growth
- Likes are a signal. They tell X which posts people enjoy, and X has said liking more posts improves your own For You feed (see TIME's coverage).
- They are a low-cost hello. Liking the posts of people in your niche puts your name in their notifications.
- They feed your engagement rate. Likes are usually the largest part of a post's engagement rate.
A like is a nod; a thoughtful reply starts a relationship. For growth, replies do far more work per minute spent, so treat likes as the warm-up.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Can other people see what I like on X?
Others can no longer open your Likes tab. The author of a post can still see that you liked it, so a like is private from the public and visible to the person you liked.
Is a like the same as a bookmark?
A like is visible to the author and counted publicly. A bookmark saves a post for later.
Last checked November 2026.
Turn passive likes into conversations with the reply generator.