X, the social media platform led by Elon Musk, is set to launch a new feature called "Starterpacks" aimed at simplifying the discovery of prominent accounts for new users, including those interested in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This initiative, spearheaded by X's Head of Product Nikita Bier, is inspired by a similar feature on Bluesky and seeks to enhance user engagement by curating lists of influential figures across various fields.
Instead of relying on user-generated recommendations like Bluesky, X's "Starterpacks" are being developed internally, leveraging the platform's own data to identify standout contributors in different niches and regions. Bier noted that the X team has been actively searching for these key individuals over the past few months. The "Starterpacks" are expected to become available to all X users in the coming weeks.
In the cryptocurrency realm, the selected accounts include prominent figures such as Changpeng Zhao (CZ) of Binance, Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, Justin Sun of Tron, and the pseudonymous Shibetoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Dogecoin. These curated lists aim to provide newcomers with a valuable starting point for navigating the crypto conversation on X and connecting with leading voices in the industry.
The launch of "Starterpacks" reflects X's broader strategy to become a more user-friendly platform for exploring diverse topics and connecting with relevant communities. By providing curated lists of influential accounts, X hopes to lower the barrier to entry for new users and foster more meaningful interactions within the platform. This move could also attract more users to X, particularly those interested in specific areas like cryptocurrency, who may have found it challenging to identify key individuals to follow in the past.
While the "Starterpacks" feature is inspired by Bluesky, X's implementation differs in its approach to curation, opting for internal data analysis rather than user-generated lists. This approach allows X to maintain greater control over the quality and relevance of the recommended accounts, potentially minimizing the risk of spam or biased recommendations. The success of "Starterpacks" will likely depend on the quality of the curated lists and their ability to genuinely help new users discover valuable content and connections on the platform. The feature's rollout will be closely watched by both crypto enthusiasts and social media observers, as it represents a significant step in X's ongoing evolution under Elon Musk's leadership.
