What is X's "About this account" and how does it work?

Since social media became part of everyday life, its use has continued to grow and transform, although with X (formerly Twitter) the conversation ebbs and flows in tandem with controversial decisions. In this context, a new development has emerged that is generating a lot of discussion: “About this account”, a profile module that reveals key contextual information to understand who is on the other side of a @user.

The goal is clear: to provide authenticity signals to combat bots, impersonation, and coordinated interference, without having to resort to external tools. Tapping on an account's creation date opens a record with data that, when properly interpreted, They can uncover fake profiles, geographically locate the activity and provide clues to changes in identity in There.

What is “About this account” and what is it for?

The new “About this account” section adds a panel with basic contextual metadata to X profiles. According to the platform and product managers, the intention is to strengthen the integrity of public discourse by offering verifiable signals about each profile. Among other things, it allows users to see the associated country or region to the account activity, its registration date, and its recent name change history.

Beyond mere curiosity, it has a practical use: it helps add context to what we read and identify manipulation campaigns, coordinated accounts, or identities that don't match their claims. For those who follow profiles on geopolitics or sensitive topics, this transparency can be crucial, since Some "local" analyses may have been published from other countries with specific interests.

Along these lines, X executives have explained that the feature was rolled out gradually and is intended as a first step: today it displays basic data, and in the future it will be complemented with more authenticity indicators. That's why you'll see X talking about "ensuring the integrity of the public square" and offering new verification methods for millions of users.

How to access from your mobile phone and computer

Accessing the section is straightforward: the link is "hidden in plain sight" within the profile itself. Both in the app of iOS y Android As with the web and desktop versions, simply tap or click on the user's sign-up date, identified as "Joined on…". Doing so opens a panel with the information available for that account and its recent activity, including estimated location and name changes.

1. Enter the profile whose information you want to view and locate the line “Joined in [month] of [year]”. tap or click around that date.
2. A screen will be displayed showing the exact creation date, the country or region (depending on configuration and technical signals), the recent name change history, and the client or platform with which the profile is most connected. Some profiles also display the verification date if apply.
3. On accounts with "questionable" data, X may display a warning or alert icon indicating that the location may not be accurate, for example, if it detects the use of VPN or proxy servers.

During the first few hours of the rollout, some users reported that access would appear and disappear. X acknowledged that it was adjusting the launch and that I would update the data periodically with a delayed and random schedule to protect privacy.

What data does it show and how to interpret it?

This isn't about "spying" on anyone, but about offering technical signals that help separate noise from reliable information. In practice, the panel may include several fields that should be read together to avoid jumping to conclusions. These are the keys you'll see most frequently and how to "read" them without falling into misinterpretations, with the idea of cross-reference clues, not just a single piece of information.

• Country or region of the account: It's the approximate location of the profile based on signals such as IP address, GPS (if active), or nearby networks. It helps detect discrepancies between what the profile says and where the user is actually operating from.
• Name change history (@): The module indicates whether the account has recently changed its handle and how many times. Many changes in a short period may point to opportunistic rebranding or account reuse.
• Exact creation date: It was already visible, but now it's contextualized with the rest of the data. Accounts created "yesterday" that comment on everything and repeatedly change their names are a clear red flag.
• Most used client or platform: It shows from which application or interface most connections are made (for example, App Store, Google Play or Web). This detail, while not definitive, helps to refine the usage patterns.
• App origin / download store: In some cases, the app's associated store is indicated (for example, "US App Store"). This is another clue about the user's ecosystem.
• Check: If the account is verified, the verification date may appear, providing additional context to the profile's credibility.

Note: A profile showing an "unexpected" location doesn't automatically mean it's being manipulated; it could be due to travel, recent moves, or the internet provider routing traffic through other countries. That's why X includes contextual warnings and an alert icon when the reliability the location is doubtful.

Accuracy, warnings, and why it's not infallible

Location accuracy depends on multiple technical signals and whether the user allows precise geolocation. X acknowledges that the information may vary with user movements or network changes, and that updates are delayed to preserve privacy. In the first few days, inconsistencies were detected, which the company itself acknowledged. has been corrected with updates scheduled.

When X suspects the location might be incorrect, it marks it with an exclamation mark shield symbol and displays the message: "Country or region may not be accurate." This uncertainty often arises if the account Use VPN or proxiesBut it can also occur with ISPs that use transparent proxies without user intervention.

In cases where the platform cannot assign traffic to a specific country, a default value can be set. X details in its documentation that, using IP, GPS, and wireless network signals, it attempts to determine the approximate location; if this is not possible, a default logic is applied which, in some scenarios, assigns United States as a placeholder country.

Furthermore, product managers have admitted that data from older accounts wasn't always 100% complete at the start of the rollout, which is why they scheduled maintenance windows and brief outages. There were even public announcements stating that the module would be operational again "in a few days" after fine-tuning some details and reprocess histories.

One important point: if a user tries to "trick" X with a VPN, the profile may display a warning that the country or region might not be accurate. And the app's code has shown signs of future improvements to these warnings, so the platform intends to make others aware of this, or at least... suspect with discernment.

Privacy, display options, and controls

To mitigate risks in countries with restricted freedoms, X offers settings to display the region instead of the country, and even more generic options in some cases. By default, the platform may display the country, but options exist in the privacy and security menu to change this. restrict the level of detail that is made public.

Specifically, within Privacy and Security, the "About your account" section allows you to review whether your country, or only your region/continent, is exposed, depending on your area's deployment. X has indicated that these options are offered with particular attention to contexts where revealing the exact country is necessary. could put at risk to certain users.

Regarding who can view the profile, there have been changes as the rollout has progressed. In the initial phase, many users could only access "About Your Account" on their own profile. As the launch matured, the company enabled third-party access: by tapping the creation date on any profile, users can now access their dashboard, as demonstrated. captures and evidence from numerous users.

The company also emphasizes that the data update schedule is deliberately staggered and random to prevent the inference of routines, and that any incorrect data will be corrected with the best available information. In short, there is a balance between public utility and risk minimization for those who need to preserve some of their anonymity.

Practical uses: authenticity, investigation and security

For journalists, analysts, and demanding users, the tool is a valuable asset. It allows them to identify whether a local trend might be amplified from abroad, whether a newly created account frequently changes its name, or whether the device/client used to post aligns with the content. Combined with other signals, this data helps to... detect coordinated operations to protect themselves from catfishing and scams.

If you have doubts about a profile claiming to be a "service from your bank," it only takes a few seconds: When was it created? How many name changes has it had? From which country does it operate? If the account was created yesterday, has had five name changes in 48 hours, and the location doesn't add up, you have more than enough reason to be suspicious. Do not click on links and report it.

The module is also useful for information hygiene. Previously, many relied on OSINT and third-party tools to obtain context; now, X integrates a signals layer that reduces friction and improves decision-making: following, muting, blocking, or reporting with greater confidence, especially when the conversation enters sensitive territory.

However, keep in mind the limitations: the location is approximate, may be affected by network routes, and if a VPN is in use, the system will indicate this with warnings. Therefore, use "About this account" as a starting point, not as definitive proof, and supplement this with a look at the posting history, connection times, and other relevant data. consistency of discourse in the time.

How does X determine the location and why does it sometimes fail?

According to official documentation, X associates each account with a country based on technical signals: IP address, GPS geolocation (if enabled), and data from nearby wireless networks or cell towers. Using this combination, it infers an approximate location to personalize the experience, comply with local regulations, and enable geographically restricted features. If no signal is conclusive, a default logic is applied that may result in the account being listed as [country name missing]. located in the United States.

The most common errors occur when a person travels, moves, or changes internet providers. There are also ISPs that route traffic through intermediary servers outside the country, which can confuse any automated system. X attempts to mitigate this with regular updates and visible warnings on the dashboard itself when it detects that accuracy is not guaranteed, so that the reader do not assume certainties where there are only indications.

Settings: Show country or region only

For those who need an extra layer of protection, X allows you to choose between displaying the country or only the region/continent in your profile, depending on the geographic area deployment. By default, the country may appear, but in Privacy and Security, within the “About your account” section, you can adjust the level of detail that will be visible to others, which is useful in places where revealing the exact country is not recommended. could entail risks.

This control coexists with the anti-VPN warning. If a proxy is detected, the system flags the profile, indicating that the location may not be accurate. In this way, the platform avoids false senses of certainty and offers clues to those who want to assess the credibility of a profile without assuming that... Geolocation is infallible.

Visual signals, icons, and system messages

In addition to the panel itself, you'll see icons that summarize the status of the information. The most important is the shield with an exclamation mark, which warns that the location data is suspicious. Tapping it displays a contextual message explaining that this could be due to VPNs, proxies, or network routes not controlled by the user, and that the data is being updated. with periodicity and delay to protect privacy.

In some profiles, the module also highlights the primary connection client (e.g., “Web,” “iOS,” or “Android”) and can show whether the app is associated with the App Store or Google Play in a particular country. It's not a definitive conclusion in itself, but it adds another piece to the puzzle for those who need it. finer readings.