What is X?
X, formerly known as Twitter, is a free social and communication platform that allows users to share a variety of media and messages with their audience. You can create and share posts containing text, images, videos, links, GIFs, and even interactive polls. These updates appear on your profile and in the feeds of your followers.
The platform supports mutual interaction—you can follow others and gain followers yourself. While the concept of short-form content remains central, several features and branding changes have been introduced since the rebranding to X.
No More Fleets
The ephemeral content feature called Fleets—which were temporary posts visible for 24 hours—has been retired. Originally introduced to mirror the success of Stories on Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, the feature failed to gain long-term traction on X.
Clean Interface and Easy Navigation
The app features a bottom navigation bar with intuitive icons:
- Home – Browse your newsfeed.
- Search – Tap the magnifying glass to find users, hashtags, and trending content.
- Notifications – Click the bell to view mentions, likes, and replies.
- Messages – Access your direct messages via the envelope icon.
- Create Post – Use the feather icon with a plus to draft a new post.
When composing a post, you can use up to 280 characters. A circular progress bar visually tracks your remaining character count. The bar changes color—orange when you're near the limit, red when it's exceeded. You can also include media attachments and access a built-in GIF library.
Polls and Scheduled Posts
One engaging feature is the ability to create polls. You can pose a question and provide up to four possible answers. A poll must have at least two choices and can remain active for a set duration, down to the minute. The results are shown as percentages once voting concludes.
Scheduled posts are also supported. By tapping the Schedule button, you can publish your message at a future date and time—ideal for announcements or campaign planning.
Privacy and Post Visibility
You can control who sees your posts by clicking the visibility icon (usually represented by a globe or audience selector). Options include:
- Everyone
- People you follow
- Only people you mention
The Explore Tab
The Explore section curates real-time content across news, pop culture, sports, and more. The trending area showcases hashtags and topics that are being widely discussed. This feature helps users stay informed and discover fresh content.
Reposts and Engagement
You can share posts from others through the Repost feature, previously known as a retweet. Reposts appear on your profile and in your followers' feeds. This allows users to amplify voices and content they find meaningful.
Is X Free to Use?
X remains free to access, but it does include sponsored content in the form of Promoted posts. These ads often originate from accounts you don’t follow and are marked with a small “Promoted” tag beneath the post.
Account Required for Full Access
Previously, users could search and view content without signing in. Now, the search feature is restricted to registered users. Unregistered visitors are limited to viewing a curated selection on the Explore tab. To use the platform’s full capabilities, creating an account is essential.
Is X Safe?
Safety on the platform has been a topic of debate. X has faced criticism for account suspensions and the moderation of controversial content. While marketed as a champion of free speech, some users perceive bias in enforcement actions. For those seeking alternative platforms, apps like Parler and Mastodon have emerged with different moderation approaches.
Rebranding and Future Plans
Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, Twitter was rebranded to X. The iconic blue bird logo has been replaced with a minimalist X icon, and terminology changes include using “posts” instead of “tweets” and “reposts” instead of “retweets.”
Interestingly, while the rebranding is in full swing, the desktop domain still reads twitter.com rather than x.com. Musk has shared ambitions to transform X into an “everything app,” drawing inspiration from apps like WeChat in China.
Is It Worth Using X?
X offers a streamlined experience for sharing and engaging with diverse content formats. With scheduling tools, polls, and a polished interface, it provides powerful tools for personal and professional communication. However, users should be aware of its limitations, especially around moderation policies and ad presence. Still, for many, X remains a relevant and versatile platform in the social media ecosystem.
