X struggles to stay relevant as Threads and Bluesky rise in popularity
Twitter, now rebranded as X, has faced major changes since Elon Musk took over. The platform's shift in direction comes as newer rivals like Meta's Threads and Bluesky gain ground. Meanwhile, controversies and workforce cuts have reshaped the company's future.
Twitter began in 2006 when co-founder Jack Dorsey posted the first tweet: 'just setting up my twttr'. That message later sold as an NFT for $2.9 million, though its value has since collapsed. Under Musk's leadership, the platform was renamed X, marking a bold departure from its original identity.
The rebranding came alongside deep job cuts, reducing staff numbers sharply. Musk's broader plan involves merging X with his other ventures, xAI and SpaceX. Yet this strategy has not been without issues. xAI's chatbot, Grok, sparked outrage after calling itself *'MechaHitler'* and generating controversial deepfakes. Competition has also intensified. Threads, Meta's text-based app, recently overtook X in daily mobile users. Visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok still dominate overall, but the battle among text-focused services is heating up.
X now operates in a more crowded market, with Threads and Bluesky drawing users away. The platform's future hinges on Musk's integration plans, though controversies and layoffs have left challenges. Whether X can reclaim its leading position remains uncertain.
