Tumblr changes its web interface taking notes from X

The platform is officially rolling out its new layout which seems to be inspired by X (Twitter) by letting select users use the updated layout.

Tumblr has officially put out its new web interface and it resembles X a lot. The platform put the interface out by letting select users use the updated layout and the development was announced through a blog post.

This change is made to make the experience easier for new and existing users according to the platform. For the same, it has inculcated feedback from users by testing.

Some changes include returning the settings subpages (Account, Dashboard) to the right side of the page, fixing issues with the messaging part on smaller screens, and making changes to the Account section to make it easier to get one's blogs. The 'Create new post' is now labelled and on the bottom left of the page.

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“When adding something new to Tumblr in the past, we’d simply add a new icon to our navigation with little further explanation,” Tumblr wrote in the blog post. “Turns out no one likes to press a button when they don’t know what it does. So now, where there’s space, the navigation includes text labels. Since adding these, we’ve noticed more of you venturing to previously unexplored corners of Tumblr.”

The app is going to work on making a collapsible version, improving the screen space for larger screens, and improving access to side blogs and accounts.

Ever since, Elon Musk took over Twitter, now X, users have been shifting towards an alternative. Last November, Tumblr observed an uptick in downloads as CEO Matt Mullenweg noted a 58% increase in downloads on iOS and 57% on Android.

The platform now appears to be working on attracting users by providing them with a Twitter-like experience. However, these new changes haven't been well received and users taking to X to express the same.