Elon Musk has been actively transforming Twitter since his acquisition for $44 billion, equivalent to approximately Rs. 3,59,100 crore. The most significant update comes with the complete rebranding of the platform, changing its name and logo from Twitter to X. Musk further announced via a tweet that the domain X.com now redirects users to what was once known as Twitter. His initiatives, ranging from monetizing the platform through premium subscriptions to introducing paid verification, reflect his vision for the future of the service within his broader X group of companies.
From the outset of his Twitter acquisition in October 2022, Musk articulated his intentions clearly. He described the purchase as a catalyst for building X, an “everything app.” This concept aims to consolidate numerous services into a singular platform, similar to WeChat, encompassing functionalities such as ride bookings, money transfers, payments, and daily communications.
Although the rebranding from Twitter to X has taken place, the platform has not yet evolved into the envisioned super app. On July 23, Musk updated followers about the new logo, transforming Twitter’s branding to X within hours. Following this, the x.com domain transitioned to direct users to the platform’s homepage.
Musk’s Longstanding Affinity for ‘X’
The recent shift to X may seem sudden, but Musk’s fondness for the letter has historical roots. It traces back to 1999 when Musk launched x.com as a financial service, which later evolved into PayPal after a merger with Confinity in 2000. An article from Time details how Musk was ousted as CEO of PayPal that same year, prior to its acquisition by eBay for $1.5 billion.
In a move reflecting personal significance, Musk repurchased x.com from PayPal in July 2017, citing its “great sentimental value.” Shortly thereafter, he made the domain operational again, redirecting visitors to The Boring Company by December 2017.
Since assuming control over Twitter, Musk has shown determination to actualize his vision for X as the ultimate “everything app.” During a discussion with Ron Baron, Musk expressed ambitions to establish Twitter as “the most valuable financial institution in the world” by April 2023.
The influence of the letter X extends beyond Twitter; it’s a prominent feature in Musk’s other ventures, including SpaceX, his newest AI project named xAI, and Tesla’s Model X SUV.
Transformations at Twitter Following Musk’s Purchase
Under Musk’s stewardship, Twitter has undergone a dramatic makeover, including the dismissal of its former CEO Parag Agrawal and other executives. Numerous high-profile accounts that had previously been banned have since been reinstated.
Within weeks of his substantial purchase, Musk began efforts to monetize the platform, revamping Twitter Blue. The social media site also faced significant layoffs, affecting multiple departments, including the entire AI Ethics team.
Twitter Blue’s verification system saw the introduction of blue ticks for both verified and subscriber accounts in November. However, the tick marks for paid accounts were soon removed, prompting Musk to implement a color-coded system to differentiate between account types, including news outlets.
Despite these changes, Twitter’s advertising revenue plummeted nearly 50%. To sustain user engagement, Musk has rolled out various new features, including live tweeting, community notes, and a business tier for Twitter Blue. Recently, he stepped down as CEO yet remains actively involved, focusing on introducing features such as view counts and extended video uploads.
In April 2023, Musk announced the integration of Twitter with X Corp to further consolidate his vision. The following month, he appointed Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO, indicating a desire to delegate responsibilities while he concentrates on his other ventures.
A Retrospective on Twitter’s Name and Iconic Blue Bird
Twitter was founded in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass. Initially, the platform considered multiple names, including Smssy and Twttr, as reported by CreativeBloq. The original Twitter logo was a simple text design in light blue, crafted by designer Linda Gavin.
The imagery of a blue bird emerged shortly after Twitter’s debut, created by British graphic designer Simon Oxley. In 2006, Oxley published the design on iStock, and it was acquired by Twitter for approximately $15. The bird was named “Larry” as a nod to basketball legend Larry Bird.
The logo has undergone three redesigns in 2009, 2010, and 2012. The latest version was developed by Doug Bowman, Twitter’s former creative director, who asserted that “Twitter is the bird, the bird is Twitter.” The blue bird, affectionately known as Larry, became synonymous with the platform.
The transformation initiated by Musk in 2023 encompasses not only the logo but also renames and redefines Twitter’s identity as X, clearly demonstrating a significant shift in the company’s trajectory. Paris Marx noted in a tweet that the new logo was designed by an in-house designer using the Monotype font. Another Twitter user has also claimed credit for the design and shared insights on its development.
