Twitter's Gone a Bit X-Rated!
In case you’ve missed the big news, Twitter has undergone a bit of a makeover recently. Decision makers of the platform have decided to switch things up and give themselves a fresh new look by rebranding to ‘X.’ If you’ve been taking a break from the digital world or perhaps enjoying some island time this summer, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Let us X-plain what’s been happening and what’s new, and why Twitter's gone a bit X-Rated!
As you can imagine, the internet has reacted to the name change with a mix of emotions. According to a recent poll by CivicScience, 33% of Americans have had a negative reaction to the rebrand, while only 14% have had a positive reaction. (We’re yet to find the results on whether Elon Musk cares).
So, What Are The Changes X-actly?
If you’ve barely noticed a change (and you don’t actively use the platform), you can be forgiven. You can hardly call it a ‘Selling Sunset’ type makeover. The changes are small, but most notably they include:
- New name and logo: Twitter has been rebranded as X, with a new logo that features a stylised X. If you use Twitter’s logo on your email footer, website or marketing collateral – you may want to think about updating your social icons.
- Expanded features: X is aiming to become an ‘everything app,’ offering a wider range of features than Twitter did previously. This includes things like payments, shopping, and even long-form video. This could be great news for businesses as they can get more out of the platform, but for those that like those quick, trending updates – it could make the user experience noisy and confusing.
- New focus and freedom of speech: X has pledged to be a more open platform for speech than Twitter was. Although, this has raised concerns about the potential for increased misinformation and hate speech on the platform.
And along with X’s changes, there’s been a knock on effect in terms of X’s user engagement. Sensor Tower’s data indicates that time spent per user fell 7% and daily sessions per user fell 6% following the renaming of the app to X. What’s more, X’s app store ratings have declined since the rebranding, with many users complaining about the changes to the app. Big yikes!
How Are People Reacting?
While some are mocking the logo, others are expressing concerns about what the rebrand means for the platform’s future. Some have speculated that it is a way for Elon Musk to put his own stamp on the platform, with concerns over the rebrand being a sign that Twitter is becoming less accessible and more elitest.
Rebecca Hopwood, Founder of Youbee Media Limited says “X’s updates have become incredibly confusing for Twitter fans. Many of the clients we represent on the platform are starting to step away as we’re no longer sure what the platform will be, or how it will work for businesses.”
So, What Exactly Are The Pros To X (If Any?)
At the moment, it’s too early to say whether the switch from Twitter to X will be positive or negative for both users and businesses. Only time will tell how the new platform will be received and how it will evolve in the future. Some people think that the wider range of features could make Twitter more useful and convenient for users, while others agree with the pledge to make Twitter a more open platform, stating how it was previously ‘too censored.’
And The Cons?
On the contrary, X’s focus on freedom of speech could lead to an increase in misinformation and hate speech on the platform. This could in turn, make the platform a less welcoming place for new and existing users. In addition, the rebrand from Twitter to X could also lead to confusion among users (if it hasn’t already succeeded in doing so.) Some people may not understand what the new name means or what the new platform is all about. I mean if it was never broken, why fix it!?
Only time will tell how the new platform will be received and how it will evolve in the future. But what’s certain is that the rebrand has caused quite the stir, that’s for sure!
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Twitter's Gone a Bit X-Rated!
