X Users Spot Pointing Hand In Post Composer
An animated hand is appearing beside X’s promote button for some users, prompting confusion as the company has yet to explain it.
Some X users are seeing an animated arm point toward the “promote” button while they write a post. Engadget and TechCrunch reported screenshots and accounts of the unexpected prompt on October 27, but X has not publicly explained why it appears or whether it is part of a broader rollout.
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What users are seeing
The arm briefly appears in X’s post composer and points at the option to promote a post, according to Engadget. TechCrunch said users began sharing accounts of the hand over the previous 24 hours, including screenshots posted on October 26 and 27. Several described being startled or annoyed when it appeared while they were preparing a post.
Engadget said the change does not appear to have reached every account. It also noted that the promote button is shown in the composer for accounts with a paid X Premium subscription. Neither report established precisely which users are eligible to see the animation, how often it appears or whether X intends to keep it.
No explanation from X
The hand’s timing has prompted speculation that it could be a Halloween prank, but neither outlet reported confirmation from X. Engadget said X had not publicly addressed the animation and that a company representative did not immediately respond to its request for comment. TechCrunch said it had also contacted X.
Engadget reported that Grok, X’s chatbot, told users the hand was not a glitch, while also saying there was no official word on whether it was an intentional design choice or related to Halloween. That response does not establish why X added the prompt. TechCrunch suggested that the conspicuous nudge might even deter some users who otherwise wanted to pay to promote a post, but reported no evidence of its effect on purchases.
A change in product leadership
The hand’s appearance also coincides with a leadership change at X. Peter Sellis announced on October 26 that he had joined the company to lead product, according to TechCrunch. The outlet reported that Sellis previously held product leadership roles at Snap and Discord and that former X product head Nikita Bier left in August after nearly a year in the role.
TechCrunch and Engadget both noted speculation about whether Sellis was behind the animation, but neither found evidence tying him to it. For now, the visible change is a striking prompt in the composer; its purpose, reach and future remain unclear.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.