X's Location Update Triggers National Identity Debate
The recent reactivation of X's country location feature has sparked intense discussions among Indian users and digital experts. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, now displays users' country information, but the inclusion of a "South Asia" option has raised eyebrows across the Indian digital community.
Prominent journalist Vikram Chandra initiated the conversation on November 23, 2025, directly addressing X CEO Elon Musk and product lead Nikita Bier. While praising the country location feature as "one of the best updates for an app in a long time," Chandra questioned the logic behind allowing users to select "continent" as their location, arguing it makes little sense in regions where country identity holds paramount importance.
Medical Community Voices Concerns
The debate intensified when dermatologist Dr. Aayna Clinic, operating as @theskindoctor13, made a bold assertion the same day. The medical professional claimed that any account displaying "South Asia" as its location should automatically be considered Bangladeshi or Pakistani unless proven otherwise. The doctor emphasized that "South Asia" represents a manual choice rather than a default setting, suggesting that genuine Indian users would naturally prefer to identify their specific country.
Digital strategist Gabbar Singh expanded on these concerns on November 24, 2025, warning that X represents only a small sample of a larger problem. Singh highlighted how numerous Pakistani accounts allegedly pretend to be Indian to sow discord within the country. He expressed particular concern about Instagram, where similar activities might be occurring on a much larger scale with potential political motivations.
Monitoring Accounts and Digital Identity
India War Monitor, an account tracking digital activities, reinforced these observations by sharing practical advice for users. The monitor suggested always assuming that "South Asia" refers to Pakistan or Bangladesh, arguing that no reasonable Indian user would choose a regional identifier over their specific national identity. The account encouraged users to identify and monitor such accounts for potential misinformation campaigns.
The controversy highlights broader issues of digital identity and national representation on global social media platforms. As X continues to evolve under Elon Musk's leadership, features that might seem neutral in design can carry significant cultural and political implications in specific regional contexts. The discussion reflects ongoing tensions in South Asian digital spaces and raises important questions about how platform features might be exploited for coordinated campaigns.
Digital security experts note that while location features can provide valuable context, they also create new vectors for manipulation and misrepresentation. The current debate underscores the delicate balance platforms must maintain between user privacy, accurate representation, and preventing coordinated inauthentic behavior across different cultural contexts.
