Saturday, July 29, 2023

The Chronicles of X: The Rise of Musk's Everything App

One app, X, has been on a roller-coaster ride of controversy, rivalry, and evolution in a world dominated by social media, where bird-themed platforms used to reign supreme. X, founded by Elon Musk, is making news again, with record-high monthly active usage against increased competition from Threads, a Twitter clone.

Elon Musk, the mysterious owner of X, recently posted a graphic showing the app's monthly subscribers (crossing the 540 million mark). But wait a minute, the chart is missing an important component - the X-axis (how ironic!). Nonetheless, Musk asserts confidently that X is prospering amid fears of a larger user exodus from the platform. Musk is redesigning the app as part of his goal, progressively deleting any 'Twitter' and bird allusions. The X icon appears on mobile, indicating that the app is transforming into Musk's "everything app."


Musk's lofty claims, though, have not persuaded everyone. Critics have seen a trend in Musk's reactions to bad news cycles regarding the app. Whenever there are inquiries about usage or worries about the company's success, Musk firmly presents data indicating that X is still growing. It's almost like watching a movie where the hero always wins, no matter what.

But that's not all: X has also created a creator ad revenue-sharing scheme to let high-engagement users earn money from their posts based on the advertisements that appear in responses. What's the catch? The standards are stringent, including at least 15 million impressions on cumulative posts in the previous three months, 500 followers, and membership in Blue or Verified Organizations. Nobody said becoming an ad-revenue-earning creative would be simple!

This shift toward revenue may encourage users to publish information that elicits strong emotions like wrath and happiness, which are known to elicit more responses. Consider a digital battleground where users compete for engagement to generate ad income. Will this PvP nature align with Elon's vision for the app? Only time will tell.

While many creators are delighted about making money from their work, it is unclear how long this revenue stream will last. Elon Musk has already pledged to expand the program to include ad exposure on user profiles, but it remains to be seen if this will be a game changer or simply another pipe dream.

Meanwhile, the app's ad display has been somewhat tweaked, with the customary 'Promoted' tags replaced with a smaller 'Ad' label at the top right of sponsored posts. While this may make commercials appear more natural in-stream, it may also draw the ire of authorities. The FTC requires clear and visible indications for advertisements, and X's new strategy may not pass the scrutiny test fully.

As the X tale progresses, it's evident that Elon Musk is keen to mold the app into his vision of an all-encompassing platform. While some of his statements and maneuvers have been questioned, there is no disputing that X is a force to be reckoned with in the social media environment.

So, whether you're a creator looking for fame and fortune, an advertiser navigating the shifting ad displays, or just a regular user watching the saga, one thing is certain: the Chronicles of X will continue to entertain and surprise us with each new twist in this epic journey of digital ambition. Keep an eye out!

Read next: Time Spent on Mobile Increases by 4% to Cross 2.5 Trillion Hours
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

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