Twitter, X, and the Ever-Changing World of Social Media

Twitter

Introdução

O Twitter sempre foi mais do que uma rede social comum — ele moldou a cultura digital, impulsionou movimentos sociais e redefiniu a forma como consumimos informações em tempo real. Mas, com a recente transformação para X, será que ele ainda é o mesmo?

No Twitter Day, vamos explorar a evolução dessa plataforma, desde sua criação até as mudanças mais recentes, além de alguns fatos curiosos e inesperados sobre essa rede que já foi chamada de “a praça pública da internet”.

Se você acha que sabe tudo sobre Twitter (ou melhor, X), talvez seja hora de repensar.


📖 Aqui você encontra…

clique para ver

x

Twitter, X, and the Ever-Changing World of Social Media

If there’s one social media platform that thrives on speed, chaos, and real-time reactions, it’s Twitter — well, technically, it’s X now. What started in 2006 as a microblogging site with a 140-character limit evolved into one of the most powerful communication tools in the world.

But with its recent transformation into X, owned by Elon Musk, many are wondering: Is it still the same platform that shaped internet culture?

To celebrate Twitter Day, let’s take a look at its past, its present, and some lesser-known facts about the site that changed how we interact online.

📢 1. Twitter Was Almost Called… “Friendstalker”?

Before Twitter became Twitter, the team brainstormed several potential names, and one of the (terrible) contenders was “Friendstalker”. The idea was to highlight real-time updates about what your friends were doing — but as you can imagine, that name sounded more like a horror movie than a social network.

Thankfully, they went with Twitter, inspired by the concept of “short bursts of information” (like birds tweeting). Much better, right?

🌍 2. The First-Ever Tweet Was… Kinda Boring

Jack Dorsey, one of Twitter’s founders, posted the very first tweet on March 21, 2006. What did he say? Something deeply insightful? Groundbreaking? Nope.

He tweeted: “just setting up my twttr.”

And just like that, history was made.

🔥 3. Twitter’s Character Limit Has a Reason

Originally, Twitter had a 140-character limit, which wasn’t just a random decision. It was inspired by the 160-character limit of SMS text messages. The goal? Keep messages short, snappy, and easy to read.

In 2017, Twitter doubled the limit to 280 characters, and while some celebrated the extra space, others argued it ruined the essence of quick, witty tweets.

Now, with X’s new direction, some users have longer post options, subscription-based features, and even monetization opportunities. But does this change what made Twitter unique in the first place?

💡 4. Twitter (X) and Social Movements: More Than Just Memes

Think Twitter is all about viral jokes? Think again. The platform has played a huge role in global activism.

From the Arab Spring (2010-2012) to movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #FreeBritney, Twitter has been instrumental in spreading awareness, organizing protests, and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.

One of the biggest questions now is: Will X still serve as a platform for activism, or will its shift in focus limit this role?

Elon Musk

🚀 The Transition from Twitter to X – What’s Changing?

Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022 marked the beginning of a radical transformation. In 2023, he rebranded Twitter as X, stating that his vision was to turn it into an “everything app”, similar to WeChat in China.

Here are some of the biggest changes:

The end of the iconic blue bird logo → The platform is now called X, with a sleek black-and-white aesthetic.

New subscription services → Users can now pay for verification (blue checkmarks) and access exclusive features.

Longer posts & monetization → Twitter’s short-form posts are no longer the norm — some users can write long articles and even make money from their content.

AI and bots → Musk has hinted at integrating AI-driven features, changing how content is delivered.

While some users embrace the evolution, others feel that X is losing what made Twitter special: its raw, unfiltered, and fast-paced nature.

🎯 Is X Still Twitter, or Is It Something Else?

The transition from Twitter to X raises a fundamental question: is this still the same platform we once knew?

On one hand, the changes could push X toward a more advanced and dynamic future. On the other hand, many argue that the essence of Twitter — its spontaneity, brevity, and democratic nature — is fading. What do you think? Is X the future of social media, or is it losing its charm?

📩 Want to Improve Your English? Let’s Talk!

At Apollo Academy, we believe that learning should be fun, engaging, and full of real-world conversations — just like Twitter (or should we say, X?). If you want to improve your English and express yourself fluently online and offline, we’ve got the right course for you.

📞 Contact us today and start your journey!


Bora pra um Quiz nostálgico?

“Pick between foods, colors, and more, and we’ll tell you which social media you are!”

0%

Pick a snack to eat while scrolling on your phone:

What’s your ideal weekend activity?

Choose a color that represents your vibe:

Pick a classic internet sound:

What’s your go-to way of communicating?

Your phone battery is at 2%. What do you do?

Choose a type of internet drama:

How do you react when your friend sends a meme?

Which old-school internet trend would you bring back?

"Pick between foods, colors, and more, and we'll tell you which social media you are!"
X (Twitter) 🐦

"Congrats, you are X (Twitter) – chaotic, full of opinions, and always in the middle of drama! You live for memes, questionable takes, and arguing with strangers online. You either have the best humor or the worst, but either way, you're here for the retweets and the tea. Just be careful not to get canceled!"
Orkut 🛜

"Orkut? Wow, you’re a true nostalgic soul. You love the golden days of the internet, when people left testimonials, joined weird communities, and spent hours customizing their profiles. You probably miss the ‘Who viewed your profile’ feature and still believe ‘100% sexy, 100% cool, 100% fun’ should be your bio."
MSN 💬

"You are MSN Messenger – a legend! You mastered the art of dramatic song lyrics as status updates, going 'offline' just to get someone’s attention, and sending nudges when people ignored you. You believe conversations should be full of GIFs, emojis, and passive-aggressive messages. BRB, just crying over the past."
Instagram 📸

"Aesthetic, trendy, and a little bit obsessed with yourself – you are Instagram! You live for perfectly edited photos, aesthetic cafés, and documenting your life like it’s a reality show. Whether you’re flexing your outfit, your workout, or your food, you make sure everything looks 100% picture-perfect."
TikTok 🎵

"You are TikTok – chaotic, creative, and possibly a little sleep-deprived. You know every trending sound, can’t go five minutes without scrolling, and communicate mostly in short videos. Your humor is either top-tier or completely unhinged – either way, people love it. Now go make another viral video!"

Compartilhe:

Facebook
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
Tumblr
Email

Sobre o(a) autor(a) dessa postagem:

Picture of Heloisy

Heloisy

Nascida no interior da Bahia, Heloisy não tem nenhuma paciência para falar de si mesma. English Teacher pela força do destino, adoradora da Ciência e das artes ocultas, obcecada por Fantasia e teorias da conspiração, e grande fã da Internet, sempre achou que contar histórias é o melhor dos ofícios. Acadêmica em Ciências Sociais e muito versada nas artes do "bom dia pra quem?", Heloisy acha que quando a vida te dá limões, você tem que derrubar o limoeiro. Detesta vizinhos, tem pavor de visitas e seu hobby favorito é fingir que não está em casa.

Uma resposta

Deixe um comentário

O seu endereço de e-mail não será publicado. Campos obrigatórios são marcados com *