Why is Twitter now X: All you need to know

Many factors have reshaped the well-known Bluebird app and its entire social media ecosystem.

“X” is Twitter’s new name, rebranded by Elon Musk after he bought the platform with the vision of creating a new all-in-one app.

X is one of the world’s largest and most visited social media sites. It recently changed its approach to give creators and users more opportunities to connect with a global community and stay updated on current events.

So, why Twitter is now X? What unique features does X bring, and how does it differ from its predecessor? 

Let’s find the answers!

Why did Twitter become X?

Everything started in 2022 when Elon Musk acquired Twitter for a whopping $44 billion.

Then, in March of this year, he merged Twitter with a new company called X Corp.

Elon Musk, who owns X Corp, said he bought Twitter to protect free speech and to help X become the “everything app.”

After Elon Musk took over, he changed the name of Twitter to X and also renamed some features. 

For example, Birdwatch became Community Notes and Quote Tweets became Quotes.

This change was unusual because Twitter was already well-known worldwide, with words like “tweet” being used by everyone.

However, the rebranding was definitely a step in Musk’s plan.

In 2024, the website’s address changed from twitter.com to x.com.

Why “X”?

Elon Musk has always had a thing for the letter X. 

In 1999, he started a financial startup called X.com, which later became PayPal. 

He left because he wanted to keep the name X.com.

Then, he created SpaceX, which stands for Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. 

His car company, Tesla, has a Model X, and his son with musician Grimes is named X.

As for Twitter becoming X, Musk explained that the old name made sense when tweets were short, like birds tweeting. 

But now, you can post almost anything, so he wants to expand the platform to include comprehensive communications and financial services.

What are “Tweets” called now?

“Tweets” have been renamed to “Posts”, and the bird logo has been replaced with a new “post” button.

Almost every term associated with Twitter has been replaced with “post”. 

For instance, “Retweets” are now called “Reposts”.

Some users have proposed alternative names for posts. 

One suggestion is “xeets” (pronounced zeets). 

However, according to X glossary, they are sticking with posts.

What are the differences between X and Twitter after the first year?

Elon Musk is on a path to rebuild significant aspects of the old Twitter because of his plans to transform X into his ideal app.

Yet, the essence of this social media platform remains deeply rooted—a space for users to connect and express their thoughts to their followers, serving as a hub for news, entertainment, and a valuable marketing asset for businesses.

However, X has introduced new features designed to capture users’ interest with their helpful functionality.

1. Logo 𝕏

Twitter, now X, has undergone a significant transformation, notably reflected in its new logo 𝕏. 

Once characterized by the familiar blue bird emblem, the logo has evolved into an X.

The fresh X logo exudes a minimalist, black-and-white aesthetic that resonates with Musk’s overarching vision for Twitter. 

Symbolically, the X embodies the convergence of diverse ideas that define the platform while also serving as a nod to the company’s rebranding as X. 

Like its predecessor, the new logo has been carefully crafted to ensure adaptability, positioning X for lasting relevance in the ever-changing digital landscape.

2. Grok AI

A new impressive feature is X’s new Ai, Grok. 

Grok-1, an advanced search feature powered by xAI’s cutting-edge large language model (LLM), is now available to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers.

This AI is designed to provide witty and humorous responses to almost any question, while also offering helpful and insightful answers.

With Grok’s real-time access to public posts, you’ll always be in the know, receiving up-to-date responses to your queries on various topics.

3. Premium plans

X now offers a new premium subscription service that elevates the platform’s quality of features and interactions. 

X Premium has three levels: 

• Basic: Includes features like editing posts, longer posts and longer video uploads, reply prioritization, text formatting, bookmark folders, custom app icons, and more.
• Premium: Includes all Basic features plus a checkmark, reduced ads, access to apply for ads revenue sharing and creator subscriptions, larger reply prioritization, ID verification, Media Studio, and access to Grok. 
• Premium+: Includes all Premium features with additional benefits like no ads across X’s standard ad inventory, largest reply prioritization, and Articles.

PS: If you want to create the best X / Twitter content we recommend this guide. 

The prices start at $3 per month to $32 per year, plus any applicable taxes.

4. New badges

X has implemented visual identity signals on account profiles to offer users additional context.

• Blue Checkmark: This tells us that an account holds an active subscription to X Premium and fulfills the eligibility criteria. More about Twitter Blue here.
• Gold Checkmark: Designates an account as an official organization account verified by Verified Organizations.
• Grey Checkmark: Indicates that an account represents a government/multilateral organization or a government/multilateral official.
• Affiliation badges indicate connections between an account and an organization on X. These badges feature the profile photo of a Verified Organization and are applied to all affiliates of that organization. 

Could Twitter be renamed Twitter again soon?

Despite most Twitter fans’ strong attachment to its original name, there’s no clear sign that Elon Musk will start calling it Twitter again anytime soon.

Elon Musk and his team are working diligently on developing new features to transform X into their envisioned platform: an app that facilitates connections with others, content consumption, commerce, and financial transactions, among other functionalities.

In summary

Twitter, as we know it, is transforming into something new, and some experts claim that sooner or later, everybody will start referring to it as the new name, X.

Among the new features, we can discover valuable opportunities to engage with our audiences on a deeper level, identify emerging trends, and expand our growth.

Elon Musk’s influence in shaping Twitter X into the “everything app” is undeniable. And we’re excited to know what it will bring to us as users, right?