WHY IS TWITTER CALLED X NOW? Here is What the Rebranding Means

Twitter was replaced from the iconic blue bird logo with a stylized“X” logo, and the name “Twitter” was also removed from its website apps. The funniest part is that after the change, I had to search for the app on my phone for some minutes; knowing I had the Twitter app before the change, I was like, “Elon Musk, you do this one!” Elon Musk said he hopes to turn Twitter into an “everything app” called X, offering everything from social networking and broadcasting to banking and shopping. It’s not just a simple name change; a deeper story reveals the platform’s vision and ambitions. Buckle up if you want to know more because the journey is just beginning.

Key Points:

Twitter is now called X because Elon Musk, who acquired the platform, wants to turn it into “X, the everything app.”
The rebranding involved replacing Twitter’s iconic blue bird logo with a stylized “X” and moving the platform’s core systems to the X.com domain.
Elon Musk envisions transforming X into a super app, similar to China’s WeChat, that covers nearly all online activities. This includes banking, shopping, video, messaging, and more features, which outdated the old Twitter name and logo.
Musk’s connection to X.com dates back to 1999 when he founded an online payment company with that name, which later became PayPal. He regained control of the X.com domain in 2017 and redirected it to Tesla’s website before repurposing it for the rebranded Twitter platform.
While some users still encounter the old Twitter landing page, the transition to the X domain is expected to be completed soon. The rebrand to X signals Musk’s commitment to holding onto the company and developing it according to his ambitious vision.

Why Is Twitter X

Credit: YouTub

CrediTwitter is now X because Elon Musk, the owner, bought the social network to turn it into “X, the everything app.” He wants to transform the platform into a super app beyond simple messaging and tweeting.

Elon Musk explained in a tweet, “The Twitter name made sense when it was just 140 character messages going back and forth… but now you can post almost anything, including several hours of video.” With plans to include features like banking, shopping, video, messaging, and more, the old Twitter name and logo no longer fit the company’s vision.

Screenshot of Elon Musk's tweet announcing why Twitter became X.

The Interesting History of X.com

Let’s talk about the story of x.com. This goes back to 1999 when Musk started an online payment company called x.com. It was one of the first online payment companies. Just a year later, it merged with another company called Confinity. You might not know Confinity because it changed its name to PayPal after the merger. PayPal, as you know, is still very popular today.

After the merger, PayPal became very successful. Musk is no longer involved with PayPal because eBay bought it for $1.5 billion in 2002, but Musk had already left in 2000 when Peter Thiel took over.

In 2014, the x.com URL alone sold for $6.8 million. Yes, just the website address, no product or service included. That’s a lot of money for a domain! In 2017, Musk got the x.com URL back. This time, he used it for Tesla’s website, another one of his companies.

Musk even tweeted (or do we call it a post now?) to thank PayPal for letting him repurchase the domain.

Now, x.com has a new use after Musk bought Twitter. And that’s the surprising history of x.com.

Why X.com Matters

Look at the past interest in x.com on Google Trends. Only a few people in the U.S. have searched for ‘x.com’ over the last five years. But there was a significant spike in interest from July 23 to 29, 2023. What happened then? On July 23, Musk made x.com redirect users to Twitter. On the 24th, he changed Twitter’s bird logo to just the letter X. You can see the significant impact of these changes in the Google Trends data.

Twitter Moves to X.com

Twitter has now moved to the X.com domain. This change followed a rebranding exercise in July 2023, shortly after Elon Musk became the social media platform’s CEO. Although Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, the Twitter domain remained in use because switching domains was more complex than changing the logo. However, Musk has now confirmed on X that all core systems of the platform have been moved to X.com.

When you visit the X login page, there’s a new notification saying, “We are letting you know that we are changing our URL, but your privacy and data protection settings remain the same.”

However, there are still instances where visiting Twitter does not redirect to X but opens the original landing page. The transition to the X domain is happening gradually, and the domain is expected to reflect X fully.

For context, Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it to X in July 2023. While the blue bird logo was replaced with “X,” the domain shift occurred recently due to technical complications. According to media reports, the URL change began in August last year, but there was some back and forth between the new and old domains.

How is X Different From Twitter?

X is set to become much more than just a social media platform; it’s being transformed into a super app for messaging, banking, shopping, and more. Unlike Twitter, which was primarily a free site for tweeting and staying updated on current news and events, X aims to offer a wide range of services.

Twitter’s C.E.O., Linda Yaccarino, said, “X will be the platform that can deliver… everything.” The plan is to make X an AI-powered platform centred on audio, video, messaging, and payments/banking, creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities.

What Lies Ahead for the App?

Elon Musk has often shared his vision of transforming Twitter into a super-app similar to China’s WeChat. Currently, no American app quite likes it, but experts picture a platform that covers nearly all online activities.

Users can do many things on the app: listen to podcasts, shop, watch videos, and more. Nii Ahene, the chief strategy officer at marketing firm Tinuiti, mentioned, “People can do a lot of different things on the platform, whether it’s listening to a podcast, shopping, or watching videos.”

Twitter, which Elon Musk is rebranding to “X,” already offers features like live audio chats, longer text posts, and video broadcasts. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson recently started a new show on the platform. If Twitter’s paid subscriptions take off, it might eventually share some of the subscription revenue with users.

“They could become a more mainstream version of Patreon or similar platforms,” Ahene noted. “But it remains to be seen if they will succeed. Twitter users don’t currently come to the platform for that, so rebranding will need significant investment and time, especially with a reduced team.”

Why Did Twitter Rebrand as X?

So far, the platform’s rebrand to “X” is just a name change with no new features added. This aligns with Musk’s usual approach: creating hype first and delivering results later.

According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh, the name change hints that Musk plans to hold onto the company for now. When Musk took over Twitter in April 2022, some thought he might make a few changes and sell it quickly.

“With the name change, that option seems off the table,” Singh said. “I don’t think any other potential buyers would be interested now.”

Download this Social Media Strategy Checklist to seamlessly adapt to changes, leverage new features, and optimize social media efforts.

Social Media Strategy Checklist for Adapting to Platform Changes Download

Musk’s Fascination with the Letter X

Elon Musk has a deep connection with the letter X. His first startup was named X.com, which later became PayPal after a merger. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk wanted to keep the name X. When he bought Twitter, he texted Isaacson about his excitement to finally use X.com as he originally envisioned, using Twitter to speed things up.

The letter X is also used in Musk’s other projects, such as his space company SpaceX, his A.I. initiative xAI, and the Model X, one of Tesla’s first electric cars. Musk even calls his son with singer Grimes by the name X.

On the Joe Rogan Experience, Musk explained the pronunciation of his son’s name, X Æ A-XII, saying, “It’s just X, the letter X.”

Musk regained ownership of X.com six years ago and changed Twitter’s legal name to X Corp in April. Recently, X.com was redirected to Twitter.com, and a crane started removing Twitter’s bird logo from the San Francisco headquarters. However, the police stopped the work shortly after it began.

Why Many of Us Loved Twitter

For many, Twitter was a platform for sharing thoughts on significant events and life milestones, such as new jobs, engagements, and travel experiences. Here are more reasons:

Real-time updates: Twitter provides real-time updates on news, trends, and events, allowing users to stay informed about the latest happenings worldwide.
Convenience: The platform’s short and concise format makes consuming and sharing information easy, catering to users with busy schedules.
Connectivity: Twitter facilitates connections with like-minded individuals, influencers, and experts, fostering a sense of community and allowing for meaningful interactions.
Versatility: From text-based tweets to multimedia content, Twitter offers a diverse range of content types, including images, videos, and GIFs, allowing for creative expression and engagement.
Global reach: With a vast user base worldwide, Twitter enables users to engage in discussions and gain perspectives from people worldwide, enriching the user experience.

How Do I Change the X Back to Twitter?

You can use an app called “X Icon Changer” on an Android device to change the Twitter app icon. Like iOS, you must save the old Twitter image on your device.

First, open the “X Icon Changer” app. Then, select the app whose icon you want to change, in this case, Twitter. Next, change the app’s name if you wish and choose the new image, which is the bluebird.

After completing these steps, the Twitter app icon on your phone will be updated to the old Bluebird logo.

Is It Still Called a Tweet on X?

Even though the logo and the website’s verbiage were updated, the platform still can’t completely abandon the Twitter brand. Its new owner, billionaire Elon Musk, mentioned this in a tweet on the rebrand day.

While some people, primarily Musk fans, have embraced the new X brand, most have not. Many individuals, both online and in person, continue to refer to the platform as Twitter and its posts as tweets.

Read: Leveraging Different Forms of Media for Business Growth

How Did Twitter Get an X Domain?

It was suggested that media outlets refer to the company and its social media platform as “X, formerly known as Twitter.” Elon Musk had been preparing for this name change for a while. When he purchased Twitter in 2022, he created a new parent company called X Corp. to facilitate the acquisition.