What does "ratioed" mean on X and how can you spot it?

As social media develops, new terms spring up to define new social interactions, such as selfie or photobomb. One you’ve probably seen in relation to X (formerly Twitter) is the term “ratio.” Here’s what it means to be ratioed on X, why it matters, and how to spot one.

What does “ratio” mean on X?

Here’s everything you need to know about the background and usage of the social media trend.

Background

The term “ratio” refers to the relationship between key stats on X. Every tweet has three values: replies, likes, and retweets. When someone calls out that ratio, they’re often pointing out that the number of responses to a tweet dramatically exceeds the number of retweets and likes. That suggests that the tweet is unpopular, though of course in reality, people can be fine with a post without liking or sharing it.

One of the most notable examples of an X/Twitter ratio was in 2017. United Airlines responded to a viral video of a passenger removed from one of their planes. The tweet gained roughly 50,700 replies, compared to only 6,274 likes. That’s an 8:1 split, which certainly didn’t bode well for United.

X has since taken measures to allow users to hide the number of responses to a tweet. While that may help reduce negative feedback, the meaning of ratio has since transitioned into a verb. “To ratio” a tweet generally means making a quote, retweet, or reply that gets more likes and retweets than the original post.

Present

Nowadays, a ratio can also refer to the competition for likes rather than comparing replies to likes or retweets. Think of it like like a referendum, in which X users see two tweets expressing different viewpoints, and vote with a like on which one they endorse. Similar use of the term has been prominent on TikTok.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily reflect genuine public opinion. Misinformation and emotionally divisive topics generate the most engagement. For example, peer-reviewed studies found that each word of moral outrage added to a tweet increases the rate of retweets by 17%. Out of all the emotions, anger spreads the fastest and farthest on social media, and fake news spreads six times faster than real news. Sometimes ratios may be skewed by brigading, in which a popular X user directs their fanbase to like, comment, or share specific tweets.

How can you spot a ratio on X?

Spotting ratios involves analyzing the stats on a tweet. As mentioned, a ratio usually occurs when a tweet has significantly more replies than likes or retweets, or when a response or quote-tweet has vastly more likes than the original.

As humans, we’re often more concerned with status, popularity, and establishing a trusted circle of friends than maintaining the truth. The primary driving force behind whether someone will like or share a piece of information isn’t its accuracy or content, but because it comes from a friend or celebrity with whom we want to be associated. So popular or verified accounts may draw higher ratios.

Ratios are also frequently involved in online disputes, where fans of a famous person or brand will comment “ratio” as a call to action for others to leave negative replies. With controversial topics, one side will attempt to ratio tweets from supporters of what they perceive as “opposing” tribes of fans.

How to avoid a ratio on X

Being on the receiving end of a ratio can be stressful and frightening. When it happens on a large scale, you may receive thousands of notifications or direct messages from people you’ve never met. If you’re not ready to handle that, think before you tweet.

While divisive opinions are standard on the internet, the types of tweets that tend to get ratioed are purposefully malicious or offensive. Avoid trying to insult others, and normally you shouldn’t have any problems. Alternately, you can protect your tweets to keep them private.

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