X has quietly introduced a feature that adds a location label to user profiles, indicating the country or region from which an account is based or currently posting. This new rollout has raised privacy concerns and caused some confusion, but there are steps users can take immediately within X to make this location label less precise.
What X Shows and Why It Matters
For most users, the label displays their country by default, though sometimes it shows a broader region. X likely determines location using signals similar to those TikTok uses—such as IP addresses, mobile network data, and device location permissions. While IP-based geolocation is quite accurate at the country level (95–99%), city-level accuracy is much lower, often under 70%. This shows location labels are rough indicators rather than exact geographical markers. For journalists, activists, and others who separate their professional identity from physical location, even a country label can pose risks of harassment or doxxing, as noted by digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Access Now.
How to Reduce Location Visibility on X
Users can adjust the specificity of their location label by going to Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > About your account. There, the Location preference allows you to choose broader areas such as your country, region, or continent. Selecting the largest available option helps make it harder for others to pinpoint your location based on profile views. Additionally, checking other location-related settings under Privacy and safety—such as personalization features relying on location data—can further reduce signals shared by the app. X has disabled precise geotagging for tweets, but app-level permissions can still transmit location info if enabled.
Additional Precautionary Measures
Using a VPN with exit nodes in a preferred region can mask location signals based on IP, although VPN IP ranges may be inconsistently flagged and sometimes create confusing or incorrect location labels. Adjusting your phone’s location permissions is also effective—on iOS, turn off precise location or location access for X in Settings; on Android, deny location permissions in the app settings. This does not block IP-based location detection but removes a more precise data source. Avoid posting photos with identifiable landmarks, event check-ins, or regular location patterns, as these can reveal your whereabouts despite broad profile labels.
Why the Feature Is Controversial
Initial rollout saw location labels appear inconsistently or change across sessions, due to factors such as mobile carrier routing, VPN use, or traveling users. This inconsistency highlights the challenges in reliable geolocation. For vulnerable users, even broad location info can enable cross-border harassment or identity matching. Experts advocate for clear opt-ins, transparent disclosure about data use, and simple controls—standards that platforms should adopt when exposing location information.
Practical Advice
No location system is flawless; VPNs, public Wi-Fi, and mobile networks can all distort location data. The best approach to reduce location precision on X is to select the broadest location setting allowed, disable app location permissions on your device, and consider using a VPN. These steps together effectively blur your location without limiting your ability to use essential platform features like posting and messaging. For users prioritizing privacy and discretion, displaying a broad location rather than a precise one can mean the difference between being findable and staying safe.
