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In a dramatic fashion, Twitter followers noticed that the happy little blue bird they were used to seeing as they scrolled their feed had transformed into a stylized X. Elon Musk’s hype was complete — Twitter was officially now X.
Although Musk admitted to overpaying to the tune of $44 billion to achieve the coveted Twitter, apparently, he hated pretty much everything about the social network. Or maybe, if you have that much cash to spare, you can do whatever the heck you want with your new company. Following the Musk takeover in 2022, the billionaire immediately started cleaning house — it’s confirmed Musk fired up to 80% of the staff, bringing the ranks of Twitter employees from 8,000 to 1,500.
Rebranding came next. Musk’s obsession with the letter X culminated in a new version of the social media mecca that brought scads of commentary, jokes and laments by followers. Even the children’s program, Sesame Street, got in on the fun when X became more than just a letter.
When the app refreshed to X, the bird logo officially got the axe. And of course, you can’t just pop the old tagline on a new company, so the Musk-run social app now encourages viewers to: “Blaze Your Glory!”
Is this social media platform just going down in a blaze of glory? And what does this mean for businesses utilizing X?
Most people thought Twitter was just fine before all this X-Marks-The-Spot stuff. What are marketers to make of this new rehaul, and how can companies utilize the changes for good without going down in a blaze of glory? In this blog, we’ll give you the key 15 changes you need to know now, how they affect you, and how you can implement them right away to still get the audience reach you crave.
1. Do we still tweet if there’s no Twitter?
Not anymore. In conjunction with the new branding, comes posts instead of tweets as seen by the refreshed blue button on your home page.
2. But Retweets are still here — for now.
Not to be confusing or anything but even though you don’t tweet anymore, you can actually still retweet. Expect fundamental changes to how retweets work on the platform, encouraging longer engagement with content.
3. X Platform and AI Integration
Musk has hyped X as a multi-faceted “everything” app powered by Artificial Intelligence. Prepare for a revolution in how we interact with audio, video, messaging, and even payment and banking systems. According to an Elon-powered world, we should embrace X as more than just a social media platform — it’s the future of technology.
4. Viewers Instead of Followers
There’s word on the street that X might replace the term “followers” with “viewers” to emphasize its content-centric nature. This could be moved to how creators get paid on the platform, and it’ll show in their content.
5. Night Mode Default
Initially, Musk stated that there would only be a dark mode setting with no other options due to a majority of users preferring it. As with any mandate, there’s going to be a pushback from others, so the default color is still set to dark mode, but there’s still an option for light mode.
6. AD Revenue Sharing Program
Creators on X have reason to rejoice, as AD Revenue sharing is introduced. Verified users with significant impressions can earn from their content, incentivizing creators to join and contribute to X.
7. Changes to Highlights Tab
Instead of having a pinned tweet, you can highlight your best content on X through the revamped highlights tab where you can showcase threads, captivating content, and all your noteworthy achievements.
8. One-Click Spam Reporting
Combat spam more efficiently with the one-click spam reporting feature, adding extra security to the platform and improving user experience.
9. Improved Bookmarking System
Organize your saved content better with different categories for each bookmark and weekly summaries of your saved items.
10. Understanding Shadow Bands
Avoid Shadow bans, but if you encounter one, X helps you understand why you were banned and suggests potential solutions for recovery.
11. Job Listings on X
X aims to compete with LinkedIn by offering job listings on company pages. Professionals and businesses can utilize X’s global marketplace for recruitment.
12. Longer Videos on X
Creators can now upload longer videos on X, promoting documentaries, films, and TV shows to keep users engaged.
13. Maximum Tweet Heights
Streamline user experience with enforced maximum tweet heights, promoting concise yet impactful messages.
14. Direct Message Controls on X
Customize your direct message experience, choosing to receive messages from followers, verified accounts, or opening it up completely.
15. X as a Financial Institution
X’s ambitious plans involve becoming a financial institution, revolutionizing payments and banking with AI-powered capabilities.
Want to achieve that X-factor in your social media strategy?
Not sure how these new changes work for your business? Or if you even need to be on X with your brand? Our social media team can help you propel your business forward in the age of X with a specially crafted social media plan, geared for your specific business and target audience.
Reach out, and let’s start talking about social for your business.
