In 2023, the platform once known as Twitter officially changed its name to X. For more than a decade, Twitter was one of the world’s most recognizable social media networks, famous for tweets, hashtags, and breaking news updates.
Now the same platform runs under a new identity. Many people still call it Twitter, but X is the official brand, with new features and a different direction under its owner, Elon Musk.
What Is X?
X is a social media and microblogging platform where users can share short updates, multimedia content, and conversations in real time. It works much like Twitter did, but with updated branding and terminology.
The core features include:
- Posting text, images, GIFs, and videos
- Reposting and liking content (formerly retweeting and favoriting)
- Using hashtags to join trending conversations
- Viewing timelines like “For You” and “Following”
- Sending and receiving Direct Messages (DMs)
At its core, X is still about sharing ideas and connecting with others publicly and instantly.
How Twitter Became X
Twitter launched in 2006 as a microblogging service where posts were limited to 140 characters. It quickly grew into a global hub for breaking news, celebrity updates, and viral trends.
In 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter, promising big changes. By mid-2023, Musk rebranded Twitter to X, changed the familiar bird logo to a black-and-white “X,” and redirected the site to x.com. The change marked Musk’s broader plan to turn Twitter into something larger than a simple social network.
Main Features of X
Despite the new name, most of Twitter’s classic features remain in X:
- Posts (formerly tweets) where users share updates.
- Reposts and likes for amplifying and saving content.
- Hashtags and trending topics that highlight conversations in real time.
- Timelines such as “For You” (algorithm-driven) and “Following” (chronological).
- Community Notes, a fact-checking system where users add context.
- Spaces, live audio rooms where people host discussions.
- Support for sharing images, GIFs, and videos.
How X Differs From Old Twitter
Several changes separate X from the Twitter people remember. The terminology has shifted — tweets are now called posts, and retweets are reposts. The iconic blue bird branding has been completely removed in favor of a minimal X logo and a black-and-white design theme.
Another big difference is the stronger push for subscriptions. X now emphasizes paid features, verification, and monetization tools more than the free version of Twitter ever did.
Premium Features: X Premium
X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) is a paid subscription service that offers extra features. Subscribers can get:
- A blue checkmark to verify their account.
- The ability to write longer posts and upload longer videos.
- Fewer ads in their feed.
- Access to monetization options such as revenue sharing.
This move makes X more of a two-tier system: basic free accounts and upgraded paid accounts.
Why the Rebrand Happened
Elon Musk has said repeatedly that his goal is to create an “everything app.” The rebrand to X is part of that plan. Instead of being just a microblogging site, X is intended to grow into a platform that supports payments, commerce, video streaming, and more.
In Musk’s vision, X could eventually function like WeChat in China — a single app that combines social networking, messaging, shopping, and financial services. The rebrand signals a move away from Twitter’s identity as just a social media site.
How People Use X Today
Even with the new name, people still use X much like they did Twitter. It’s a place for:
- Breaking news and live updates on global events
- Professional networking and personal branding
- Community conversations around hobbies, sports, politics, and pop culture
- Brands and businesses connecting with customers
For most users, the day-to-day experience of posting, reading, and engaging remains familiar.
Final Thoughts
X is essentially the same platform people knew as Twitter, but with a new name, logo, and long-term vision. It still lets you share posts, join conversations, and follow trends, but it’s moving toward being more than just a microblogging service.
Whether Elon Musk’s plan for X as an “everything app” succeeds remains to be seen. For now, X continues to be one of the most important places online to see what’s happening and join the conversation.
