Twitter

Twitter (now X)

X (formerly Twitter) is an online social media and social networking service where users post and interact with short messages known as posts or tweets (originally only tweets). Registered users can post, like, and repost (formerly retweet) posts, and unregistered users can only read posts that are publicly available. Users interact with X through browser or mobile frontend software, or programmatically via its APIs.

X was created by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams in March 2006 and launched in July of that year. It quickly gained worldwide popularity. By 2012, more than 100 million users posted 340 million tweets a day, and the service handled an average of 1.6 billion daily search queries. In 2013, it was one of the ten most-visited websites and was described as "the SMS of the Internet." As of early 2023, X had an estimated 611 million monthly active users.

In October 2022, the company was acquired by Elon Musk for $44 billion. Following the acquisition, Musk initiated numerous changes, including mass layoffs, policy shifts, and the introduction of a paid verification system (formerly Twitter Blue, now part of X Premium). In July 2023, Musk announced that Twitter would be rebranded as X, with the iconic bird logo being replaced by an 'X' and the domain transitioning from twitter.com to x.com. The company operating the service was subsequently renamed X Corp.

History

Twitter's origins lie in a "daylong brainstorming session" held by the board members of the podcasting company Odeo. Jack Dorsey, then an undergraduate student at New York University, introduced the idea of an individual using an SMS service to communicate with a small group. The original project codename for the service was twttr, an idea that Williams later attributed to Noah Glass, inspired by Flickr and the five-character length of American SMS short codes.

The first tweet was posted by Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006, at 9:50 PM PST: "just setting up my twttr". The service was initially used internally by Odeo employees, and was launched publicly on July 15, 2006.

The company Twitter, Inc. was formed in April 2007. By 2009, Twitter had become a significant platform, playing a notable role in events like the 2009 Iranian election protests. Its growth continued rapidly over the next few years, becoming a primary channel for news dissemination and public discourse.

Key milestones included:

• 2007: Introduction of the hashtag by Chris Messina.
• 2010: Introduction of "Promoted Tweets" (advertising).
• 2013: Twitter held its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange.
• 2017: The original 140-character limit for tweets was doubled to 280 characters for most languages.
• 2020: Introduction of Fleets (ephemeral tweets, later discontinued).
• 2021: Introduction of Spaces (audio conversations).
• 2022: Elon Musk acquires Twitter for $44 billion.
• 2023: Twitter is rebranded as X; the bird logo is replaced; the domain begins transitioning to x.com.

Features and Functionality

X's core functionality revolves around short text-based posts, though it has expanded significantly to include various media types and interaction methods.

• Posts (Tweets): The fundamental unit of communication. Originally limited to 140 characters, this was expanded to 280 characters for most users. Subscribers to X Premium can post significantly longer text posts. Posts can include text, images, videos, and GIFs.
• Following: Users can "follow" other users' accounts. A user's timeline consists primarily of posts from the accounts they follow, though algorithmic feeds are now standard. Following is asymmetrical, meaning one user can follow another without being followed back.
• Engagement: Users can interact with posts through:
  • Likes: Indicate appreciation for a post (formerly "Favorites").
  • Reposts (Retweets): Share another user's post with one's own followers. Users can also add their own comment to a repost ("Quote Tweet").
  • Replies: Respond to a specific post, creating a conversation thread.
• Hashtags: Words or phrases prefixed with a '#' symbol (e.g., `#socialmedia`). Hashtags are used to categorize posts and make them discoverable by topic. Clicking a hashtag typically shows a feed of other posts using that hashtag.
• Trending Topics: X algorithms identify popular hashtags, keywords, and topics being discussed at a given time, displaying them in a "Trends" section, often tailored to a user's location and interests.
• Direct Messages (DMs): Private messages sent between users. DMs can be sent to individual users or groups. Privacy settings control who can send a user DMs.
• Lists: Users can create curated lists of accounts. Viewing a list shows a timeline of posts only from accounts on that list.
• Spaces: Live audio conversations hosted by users, allowing participants to listen and speak.
• Communities: Groups centered around specific topics or interests, where members can post and interact within a dedicated space.
• Verification (X Premium): Originally a system to verify the identity of prominent accounts (public figures, organizations), the blue checkmark is now primarily a feature of the paid subscription service, X Premium. X Premium offers additional features like longer posts, undo send, fewer ads, and priority in replies.

User Base and Usage

X has a diverse global user base. While exact demographics vary by region, it is often used by:

• News Media and Journalists: For breaking news, reporting, and interacting with sources and the public.
• Politicians and Government Bodies: For official announcements, campaigning, and direct communication with constituents.
• Celebrities and Public Figures: For engaging with fans and promoting their work.
• Businesses and Marketers: For brand building, customer service, and advertising.
• Activists and Organizations: For organizing, raising awareness, and mobilizing support.
• General Public: For personal communication, following interests, consuming news, and entertainment.

Users utilize X for a wide range of purposes, including staying informed on current events, sharing personal updates, engaging in discussions, networking, and following entertainment and sports.

Business Model

X's primary revenue streams have historically been:

• Advertising: This includes Promoted Posts, Promoted Accounts, and Promoted Trends, allowing advertisers to reach specific audiences. Advertising revenue has been a significant portion of the company's income.
• Data Licensing: Selling access to the public Twitter data stream to companies for analysis and research purposes.
• Subscriptions (X Premium): Introduced under Elon Musk, this paid service offers additional features and is intended to be a growing revenue source.

Following the acquisition by Elon Musk and the subsequent changes, there has been an emphasis on diversifying revenue, including boosting subscription income and exploring potential e-commerce features.

Impact

X has had a profound impact on various aspects of society:

• Information Dissemination: It serves as a rapid platform for breaking news and information sharing, often faster than traditional media. It has enabled citizen journalism during major events.
• Political Discourse: X has become a crucial platform for political communication, campaigning, and organizing, playing a role in protests and elections worldwide (e.g., the Arab Spring). However, this also brings challenges related to political polarization and misinformation.
• Social Connection and Community: It connects people with shared interests, fosters online communities, and allows for direct interaction between public figures and their audience.
• Cultural Trends: Hashtags and trending topics influence popular culture, contributing to the spread of memes, viral content, and online movements.
• Crisis Communication: Governments, aid organizations, and individuals use X during emergencies to share vital information.

Controversies and Criticism

X has faced numerous controversies and criticisms throughout its history, many of which intensified after the acquisition by Elon Musk:

• Misinformation and Disinformation: Challenges in combating the spread of false or misleading information, including during elections and public health crises.
• Hate Speech and Moderation: Difficulty in effectively moderating hate speech, harassment, and abusive content while balancing principles of free speech. Policies and their enforcement have been frequent subjects of debate.
• Privacy Concerns: Issues related to user data privacy, security breaches, and targeted advertising.
• Bots and Fake Accounts: The prevalence of automated bot accounts and fake profiles used for spam, manipulation, or spreading disinformation. This was a major point of contention during Elon Musk's acquisition process.
• Algorithm Bias: Concerns that the algorithms determining content visibility may exhibit biases or contribute to echo chambers.
• Platform Stability and Changes (Post-Musk Acquisition): Significant changes under Musk, including mass layoffs in trust and safety teams, rapid policy shifts, the handling of verification, and technical glitches, have led to criticism regarding platform stability, content moderation effectiveness, and user experience.

Acquisition by Elon Musk and Rebranding to X

In April 2022, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, Inc. and SpaceX, offered to buy Twitter, Inc. for $44 billion, stating his intention to promote free speech and unlock the platform's potential. The acquisition was completed in October 2022 after a period of legal dispute.

Following the takeover, Musk, who became CEO (later replaced by Linda Yaccarino as CEO of X Corp., with Musk remaining Chairman and CTO), enacted sweeping changes:

• Mass Layoffs: A significant portion of the workforce was laid off, including many employees in content moderation and engineering teams.
• Policy Shifts: Changes were made to content moderation policies, including the reinstatement of some previously banned accounts and adjustments to rules around hate speech and misinformation, which drew criticism.
• Twitter Blue/X Premium Changes: The paid subscription service was revamped, making the blue verification checkmark available to subscribers rather than solely based on identity verification of prominent figures.
• Rebranding to X: In July 2023, Musk announced the name change from Twitter to X, stating it was part of his vision to create an "everything app" centered around X.com. The iconic bird logo was replaced with a stylized 'X'. The corporate entity was renamed X Corp.

The acquisition and subsequent changes have been highly controversial, leading to fluctuations in advertising revenue, user migration to alternative platforms, and ongoing public debate about the platform's future direction and impact on global discourse.

Conclusion

Originally conceived as a simple microblogging service, Twitter grew into one of the world's most influential communication platforms, impacting news, politics, culture, and social interaction. Its ability to rapidly disseminate information and connect individuals and organizations globally made it a unique force.

Under its new ownership and rebranded as X, the platform is undergoing significant transformation, aiming to evolve beyond its original scope into an "everything app." While its future direction and success remain subject to ongoing developments and challenges, X continues to be a major player in the digital landscape, albeit one navigating a period of intense change and scrutiny.

See Also

• Social networking service
• Microblogging
• Social media
• Elon Musk
• X Corp.

External Links

• Official X (formerly Twitter) website
• X About Page