Quick overview
X (previously known as Twitter) is a free social networking and communication app that lets users publish short posts containing media and links. Posts — historically called “tweets” — show up on your profile, in your timeline, and in the feeds of people who follow you. You can follow other accounts and receive followers in return.
Types of content you can share
- Videos
- Text-only messages (short-format)
- Polls with multiple choices
- Web links
- Photographs
- Animated GIFs
Each post can mix several of these elements to create richer updates.
How feeds and recommendations work
- A split view separates content from people you follow and algorithmically suggested posts.
- Voice clips are supported as a posting option.
- The platform also offers an integrated AI chatbot (Grok 2) for conversational interactions.
Navigation and creating posts
- Search tools are reachable from the bottom icon bar, along with quick access to other main sections.
- Direct messages are accessible from the same navigation area.
- Notifications and alerts appear via the icon bar for easy checking.
- Home or timeline lets you see posts from people you follow.
Composing a post is straightforward: there’s a 280-character limit, and the composer includes buttons for adding images, videos, GIFs, polls, and links.
Polls and interactivity
- Polls support up to four possible answers.
- You can set how long a poll remains open before it closes.
- Polls are a common way to solicit quick feedback from followers.
Control over who sees a post and scheduling
- Posting visibility can be adjusted using the globe/world icon to make content public, limited to followers, or restricted to specific mentions.
- Posts can be scheduled in advance to publish at a later date and time, which is useful for timed announcements or planning content.
Discovering trends and news
The Explore area curates trending topics, breaking news, and entertainment via hashtags and topic pages, helping users stay current with what’s popular or newsworthy.
Moderation, verification, and paid features
- The platform includes fact-checking and moderation tools intended to limit the spread of misinformation.
- Certain enhancements — including the Grok 2 chatbot, ad reduction, and verification badges — are tied to paid subscription tiers.
- Unregistered visitors no longer have access to the search function; browsing is mostly limited to Explore unless you sign in.
- Verification badges are now granted through subscription, which can make it harder to distinguish authentic notable accounts from impersonators.
Rebrand and terminology updates
- The familiar blue bird logo has been replaced with a minimal X mark.
- Terminology formerly used on the service has been changed: “tweets” are now commonly called “posts,” and “retweets” are referred to as “reposts.”
Summary impression
X continues to be a versatile platform for sharing short-form media, engaging with trends, and interacting through polls and chat features. The redesign and policy shifts have altered some user behaviors and access patterns, and several premium options affect visibility and verification — overall, the core social functionality remains solid but comes with new caveats for unregistered users and those seeking clear verification.
Technical
- Mac
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Web App
- Danish
- German
- English
- Spanish
- Finnish
- French
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Dutch
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Arabic
- Czech
- Greek
- Free