Goodbye to All the Birds: Twitter to X
In a move that shook the social media world, Elon Musk made good on his vision to overhaul Twitter as we once knew it. With a single tweet that read, “And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds,” Musk signalled the end of an era for the blue bird logo and the Twitter name. What we once knew as Twitter is now "X." But this radical rebrand has sparked more confusion and criticism than applause. The platform’s identity crisis has left many users—perhaps even Musk himself—wondering if the move was worth it.
The Great Name Debate: Twitter or X?
Let’s be honest: everyone still calls it Twitter. It doesn’t matter that the app icon has changed or that new sign-in screens sport the sleek new “X” branding—users continue to refer to the platform as Twitter, and “tweets” are still “tweets,” not “X's” or “posts.” For many, the name Twitter is deeply ingrained in both internet culture and everyday conversation. It’s synonymous with short, punchy updates, breaking news, and trending hashtags. Despite Musk’s aspirations to turn the platform into something far bigger—"X" as an all-in-one “everything app”—the change hasn’t quite taken hold in the public consciousness.
People live-tweeted sports events, TV shows, elections, and even revolutions. Trying to get millions of people to stop calling it "Twitter" feels a little like trying to convince the world to stop calling a vacuum cleaner "hoover"—except in this case, the change is being forced from the top down.
A Rebrand That Landed with a Thud
The rebrand from Twitter to X didn’t just cause confusion; it also caused a stir of controversy. While Musk is no stranger to bold and often polarizing decisions, this particular move seemed to frustrate both casual users and business insiders alike. Twitter, with its iconic blue bird and worldwide recognition, was one of the most distinct brands on the internet. To many, the abrupt name change felt unnecessary, even reckless. Why mess with something that had so much brand equity?
But Musk has never been one to shy away from radical changes. His vision for X is reportedly to create a multifunctional “everything app” akin to China’s WeChat, where users can chat, shop, and more—all in one place. While that ambition might hold promise, the rollout of the rebrand left many questioning whether alienating the Twitter faithful was a good starting point. Was a total rebrand necessary, or could Twitter have evolved into X without abandoning its roots?
More Harm Than Good for Business?
The rebrand has already raised concerns about how it will affect the platform's long-term success. Since Musk’s takeover, Twitter has seen a significant drop in advertising revenue, with some estimates pointing to a 50% decline. Advertisers, who relied on Twitter’s established user base and name recognition, now find themselves unsure of what X even represents. As X continues to pivot away from Twitter’s original format, it risks losing the very community that made the platform valuable to both users and advertisers.
On top of that, the transition has been messy. Confusion reigns over terminology—are we supposed to say “re-X” instead of “retweet”? Does it make sense to say you’re “X-ing” something when you share a post? The platform’s identity seems fractured, and in a world where brand consistency is key, this lack of clarity could hurt X’s efforts to attract new users or hold onto existing ones.
A Bird That Won't Fly Away
Despite the best efforts of Musk and the X team, the spirit of Twitter—its look, feel, and culture—continues to loom large. Many users have expressed nostalgia for the Twitter of old, where the blue bird felt like a symbol of free expression, spontaneous conversation, and community. The shift to X might have introduced a new logo and some fresh ambition, but it hasn’t captured the hearts of the platform’s long-time users. In fact, it’s left many feeling more disconnected than ever.
Ultimately, the rebrand feels like a gamble, one that’s yet to pay off. While Musk’s vision for X may one day come to fruition, for now, it feels like the world is stuck somewhere between two identities, unwilling to fully embrace the new X, but unable to let go of Twitter’s past. And as long as users, media outlets, and even die-hard fans continue to call it "Twitter," the question remains: Was the rebrand worth the risk?
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