Tell HN: X is opening any tweet link in a webview whether you press it or not

Post by mattmanser » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 7:55 AM UTC

Zolomon wrote: post #32

teiferer wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Always been like that. Twitter, Instagram, ... None of those platforms have usable UX if you're not logged in.

This is not true, this change is a recent phenomenon, I believe it came into effect sometime around 2021-2023 (maybe earlier even). I believe it changed when OpenAI showed the value of data. Before, there was no problem using Instagram or Twitter while not logged in. Now there is a dark pattern that forces you to create an account, or log in.

Post by scuff3d » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 7:58 AM UTC

input_sh wrote: post #33

scuff3d wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there was ever a good reason to stop using Twitter, this is it.

I don't think this would even make it into top 10 good reasons to stop using Twitter.

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:00 AM UTC

est wrote: post #12

That's precisely what Wechat is doing. Most chinese "mega apps" do this. Elon absolutely on his track to copy this important feature [1] The webview works as a traffic faucet. Elon can turn it on or off for every third-party site, you know, for "Internet safety". My take: Next step is X.com proprietary APIs inside the Webview, like payment and everything. The ultimate goal is a "mini-app" framework that use PWA-like…

Post by blikdak » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:02 AM UTC

Post by stillatit » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:16 AM UTC

gcr wrote: post #48

Does this mean an attacker can turn any impression into any GET request?