Twitter has transitioned from its emblematic blue bird logo to a new “X” symbol. The white “X” against a black backdrop now graces the desktop version of the social media platform, with changes for the mobile app version yet to be unveiled.
In addition to the new logo, “Tweets” will be supplanted by “x’s” as referred to by the platform’s proprietor, Elon Musk. The business tycoon updated his profile image to the novel logo and integrated “X.com” into his Twitter bio.
Musk’s goal is to establish a “super app” named X – his aspiration for an innovative social media platform he has been discussing for some time.
Musk expressed his intention to transform Twitter’s emblem, stating, “And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds.” He later posted a photo of the revamped X logo projected onto Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters.
Renaming the business to X Corp, Musk believes the changeover is overdue. After displaying an image of a flickering X on Twitter, he confirmed the anticipated logo modification during a Twitter Spaces audio chat.
Twitter’s newly appointed CEO, Linda Yaccarino, announced on the platform that the rebrand signifies an exhilarating new prospect. She stated, “Twitter made one massive impression and changed how we communicate. Now, X will go further, transforming the global town square.”
The bluebird, named Larry, is a homage to Boston Celtics basketball legend Larry Bird, as mentioned by Twitter’s co-founder Biz Stone in 2011.
The logo’s disappearance sparked a wave of mourning on Twitter, including from its 2012 designer, Martin Grasser. He remarked, “Today, we say goodbye to this great blue bird.” His sentiment was echoed by Twitter’s co-founder, Jack Dorsey, who shared the post with a goat emoji symbolizing ‘greatest of all time.’
The All-in-one App
In Asian markets, super-apps like India’s PayTM and Indonesia’s GoJek have become integral to daily life. These apps offer a payment method for various services.
WeChat, a social media and messaging platform, has emerged as one of the region’s largest apps in terms of services offered and user base. It reportedly had around 1.29 billion users in China alone last year.
Social media analyst Drew Benvie opined, “Musk is going full throttle for the everything app space, leaving old Twitter in his wake, and eyeing the successes of Asia’s trailblazers like WeChat and Moj.”
According to Twitter’s official site, its logo, portraying a bluebird, is its “most recognizable asset.” The company showed its protective stance for its logo.
However, it temporarily replaced the logo with Dogecoin’s Shiba Inu dog in April, which propelled a surge in the meme coin’s market value. Later, a group of Dogecoin investors accused Musk of insider trading, asserting he benefited from inflating Dogecoin’s value.
Swift Rebranding
Business commentator Justin Urquhart Stewart believes Twitter’s “loyal but aging base” may not embrace the changes. Musk must tread carefully as he is “almost starting from scratch with an older audience meanwhile damaging the original brand.”
The expedited rebranding of Twitter has triggered security concerns. Jake Moore, a global cyber advisor at ESET, warns that the name transition might provoke phishing attempts to steal users’ data.
Musk’s Obsession with ‘X’
Musk’s fascination with the letter X is well-known, though the reasons remain mysterious. One of his initial ventures in 1999, X.com, was an online banking platform. After merging with PayPal, it was sold to eBay for $165m. He still owns the X.com domain name, which now redirects to Twitter.
Musk is also the CEO of SpaceX, the commercial American aerospace company he founded in 2002. His first child with musician Grimes is named X Æ A-12 Musk. He recently launched his highly anticipated AI startup – xAI – to develop an alternative to ChatGPT.
In the face of mixed reactions and varying interpretations, Musk’s decision to rebrand Twitter signals a new era for the popular social media platform. As “X” emerges, the Twitter bird – once an iconic symbol of online chatter – fades into digital history. Only time will tell whether the revamp resonates with users or ruffles feathers. As the platform steps into uncharted territory, one thing is sure: under Musk’s leadership, we can expect the unexpected.
