Twitter, a popular social media platform, has undergone a massive rebranding by replacing its famous blue bird logo with a modern white “X” on a black background, which surprised the world. Musk’s vision is to turn Twitter into a comprehensive “super app” known as “X,” aiming to revolutionize social media. Musk has hinted at this transformative concept for months.
Twitter’s desktop version has the new branding, while the mobile app update is still pending. Notably, “tweets” are now called “x’s,” marking a departure from the traditional term. Elon Musk, who renamed the company X Corp, fully embraces the change, updating his profile picture and adding “X.com” to his Twitter bio.
Musk announced the departure of the Twitter brand, represented by the shift from the blue bird logo. The change was highlighted with the “X” branding projected onto Twitter headquarters in San Francisco.
Linda Yaccarino, the new CEO of X Corp, is excited about the rebrand and describes it as an opportunity to transform the platform into a genuine global town square, taking Twitter’s impact on international communication to the next level.
The Twitter bird, affectionately named Larry, after basketball legend Larry Bird, has been a crucial part of Twitter’s identity since its co-founder Biz Stone designed it in 2012. The recent announcement of its retirement has triggered mixed emotions among Twitter users, with some sadness by the loss of the beloved logo.
Musk aims to create an “everything app,” following a trend seen in Asia with super-apps like India’s PayTM and Indonesia’s GoJek. These apps are essential to users, offering finance, payments, messaging, and more services. WeChat, a Chinese app, is a prime example of a super-app with approximately 1.29 billion users.
Drew Benvie, a social media commentator and founder of Battenhall agency, observed that Musk’s pursuit of the everything app space means leaving old Twitter behind and competing with successful Asian super-apps. Some experts believe that excelling in a few additional services could elevate “X” above its predecessor, but they also recognize the challenge of catching up to existing alternatives.
The quick rebranding has raised security concerns. Cybersecurity expert Jake Moore warned that criminals could use the transition to launch phishing attacks, tricking users into giving away their Twitter credentials through fraudulent links.
Elon Musk’s fascination with the letter “X” has been evident throughout his career, from his first business venture X.com, an online banking platform, to his child’s name, “X Æ A-12” Musk. His recent AI startup, xAI, is another testament to this intriguing obsession.
The world eagerly waits for Twitter’s transformation into “X,” as Musk’s vision for a super app promises to revolutionize social media and online interactions. However, Twitter’s loyal users are divided over the changes, making the platform’s future uncertain.