From Twitter to X: Everything Elon Musk changed on the platform

For frequenters of the micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter), a host of changes have come into play since Elon Musk took over the platform one year ago. And while a lot of us have come to terms with the developments that are recently unfolding on the app, several minor, almost negligible details are making an impact, whether or not we notice them.

If you need a refresher on everything that’s different, we’ve compiled a list of features that have changed ever since Musk took over the platform (excluding the big name change!). Read on to find out more about what’s been up on X.

5 Twitter features that no longer exist on X

Outwardly, the website looks unchanged to a great extent. However, there are several changes that took place over the past year. Here are five highlights that made an impact:

Birdhouse icon: Twitter users were always greeted with the familiar birdhouse icon when they logged into the app on their smartphone or desktop. The icon was a clever way to signify the concept of the big blue bird.

In one of his recent most changes, Elon Musk replaced the birdhouse with a regular house icon, signifying that the site is no longer restricted to bird-related elements. Users around the world expressed their displeasure, and some even developed an extension that could let users enjoy the icon long after the changes were implemented. Little or not, can’t say we’re not sad about it. 

Verification system: Celebrities and public figures on Twitter wore the iconic ‘blue tick’ as a badge of honour, and we can’t blame them. The verification badge that was once earned meticulously was replaced with a complex, subscription-based system after Musk stepped in. He abolished the concept after referring to it as a ‘lords and peasant system’ in one of his posts.

The current plan allows anyone to purchase a blue tick at a subscription fee. However, if you’re worried your business or profile may not get the attention it deserves, X still has a ‘brown tick’ system to verify you. 

Twitter Blue (or X Premium): Following the change in the verification system, Elon Musk introduced Twitter Blue, a cult that offers benefits to only those who have purchased the ‘blue tick’ for themselves. Apart from simply being able to write longer posts (25,000 characters), it gives users the added advantage of skimming through their highlights.

And if you’ve ever complained about not having the option to edit your tweets, X Premium lets you go back to your post and fix that typo. It even ranks the posts you interact with higher than the rest of the users. Apart from this, several formatting changes, including italicising texts, custom app icons and themes, can be switched up with a Twitter Blue subscription. 

Twitter Circles: Twitter gave users a private space for them to tweet to only their close friends. Christened ‘Twitter Circles’, this feature is counting its last few days, as Elon Musk recently announced there will be no more ‘Circles’ for those who want to post privately. However, you don’t have to worry about your existing tweets, as they will remain visible to whoever will be left in your Circle. 

Twitter for iPhone replaced: While this may seem like an insignificant detail, Musk called the ‘Twitter for iPhone’ tag a ‘waste of screen space and compute’ before completely doing away with it. However, users can hold back their disdain as he has currently substituted the tag with ‘Posted from Earth’ for anyone who still wants it on their post. We’re not sure if this is a reference for something he plans in the future, but we can’t wait to see other changes unfurl on our favourite micro-blogging site.