It’s been over two years since Twitter officially became X, and marked a huge change in the social networking site.
So whether you’re still not really sure what happened with Twitter, or you’re just curious to see exactly what has changed, this guide is here to help.
We explain everything you need to know about X, including what it is, whether it’s safe for under 18s to use and how it’s different from twitter.## What is X?
After Elon Musk acquired Twitter back in October 2022, in a deal worth $44 billion, he rebranded the social media site to X.This rebrand included the name change, a new app icon and color scheme.
If you were a frequent Twitter user, then you’ll notice how X does feel fairly familiar, which is mainly thanks to its vertical-scrolling timeline, emphasis on short text posts and the concept of “followers”.
While it does undoubtedly retain some of the key features that made Twitter stand out in the first place,and continues to be a key social platform for news outlets,politicians and celebrities,look a bit closer and you’ll notice plenty of key differences.
## How is X different from Twitter?
One of the biggest differences between X and Twitter is that anyone can now pay to get the infamous blue tick badge on their profile. Back in the day, the blue tick meant that the account holder was verified and would be doled out by Twitter once it completed its own internal checks.Now, a blue tick can be purchased for a starting price of £8.17 / $8 a month with an annual membership.It is indeed worth noting that you aren’t *just* paying for the blue tick,and you’ll also see half the amount of adverts on your timeline,a larger reply boost,access to Grok and more.
There’s also premium Plus which will set you back from £31 / $40 a month with a
Concerns Over X (Formerly Twitter) and the shift to Choice Platforms
It’s understandable why many, notably teenagers, are seeking alternatives to X (formerly twitter).The platform itself acknowledges it isn’t primarily designed for children, though users aged 13 and over are permitted with certain safety measures in place. These include:
* Accounts are defaulted to “protected,” requiring approval for who can view and interact with posts.
* Minors are restricted from accessing sensitive content.
* Users have control over who can reply to their posts and can easily block or mute accounts.
Despite these features, a growing number of users are leaving X due to a variety of concerns.
Why are peopel leaving X (and where are they going)?
Many users are dissatisfied with owner Elon Musk’s decisions to disable popular features and place others behind the X Premium paywall. Moreover, disagreements over Musk’s political views and his involvement with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, specifically his role as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are also driving users away. https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-he-will-co-lead-trump-transition-team-2023-11-16/
This has led to a significant migration, frequently enough referred to as an “X-odus,” with increased downloads of competing platforms like Bluesky,Mastodon, and, initially, Instagram’s Threads.
Bluesky has emerged as a particularly popular potential successor to Twitter. Developed initially with the support of Twitter founder Jack Dorsey as a decentralized alternative, it became independent in 2021. https://blueskyweb.com/about/ The app’s interface is reminiscent of the older Twitter design. Though, whether Bluesky can truly displace X remains to be seen. https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/x-wont-die-in-2025-even-if-its-time-to-let-it-go-4579423