What Twitter / X is now, and how it changed

Twitter is a social network where you post short messages (called "posts" or formerly "tweets") that other users can read, reply to, and share. In October 2022, Elon Musk bought the platform and renamed it X in July 2023, though many people still call it Twitter. The core function — posting and reading short messages — stayed the same, but the rules for who can see what, who gets promoted, and how much it costs to use certain features changed significantly.

The biggest change for most users is that X now charges money for features that were free before. You can still read posts and create an account for nothing, but if you want a blue checkmark next to your name, the ability to post longer videos, or priority in how posts are ranked, you need to pay a monthly subscription called X Premium. The platform also changed how posts are sorted — instead of showing you posts in the order they were written, X now uses an algorithm that tries to show you posts it thinks you will engage with, similar to how Facebook and Instagram work.

Key Takeaways

  • You can read and post on X for free, but a blue checkmark and some features now require a monthly paid subscription called X Premium.
  • X shows you posts based on an algorithm designed to keep you engaged, not in the order they were posted, which means you may miss posts from people you follow.
  • The platform removed many of the content moderation rules that existed under previous ownership, so you will see more unfiltered speech and misinformation than before.
  • Your data on X — posts, likes, who you follow — is visible to other users by default unless you change your privacy settings.

How to create an account and post

To create an account, go to x.com, click "Create account," and enter your email address, name, and a password. X will ask you to verify your email and confirm your phone number. Once you are logged in, you can write a post by clicking the compose button (usually a pencil icon or a box labeled "Post something"). Posts can be up to 280 characters long, or longer if you have X Premium. You can also attach images, videos, or links.

When you post, it appears on your profile and on the feeds of people who follow you. Other users can reply to your post, repost it (called a "repost" or formerly a "retweet"), or like it. If your post gets a lot of engagement, the algorithm may show it to people who do not follow you. Unlike some other platforms, X does not have a "friends only" setting — your posts are public by default unless you change your account to private, which means only people you approve can see your posts.

What X Premium costs and what it includes

X Premium costs $8 per month on web or $11 per month on the iPhone app (the higher price is because Apple takes a cut). The main benefit is a blue checkmark next to your name, which used to mean you were verified as a real public figure but now just means you paid. You also get priority in replies and search results, the ability to post longer videos and articles, and access to an "edit post" feature that lets you change a post for up to 30 minutes after posting.

X also offers a higher tier called X Premium+ for $168 per month, which adds a gold or gray checkmark and some additional features like longer posts and priority customer support. For most people, the free version is enough — the paid features are mainly useful if you are trying to reach a large audience or want to edit your posts after posting them.

How the algorithm decides what you see

X uses an algorithm to rank posts in your feed, meaning the posts at the top are not necessarily the newest ones. Instead, X tries to show you posts that it predicts you will like, reply to, or repost based on your past behavior. This is similar to how Facebook and TikTok work. The algorithm considers factors like how many people liked or replied to a post, whether you follow the person who posted it, and what topics you have engaged with before.

This system means you may miss posts from people you follow if the algorithm does not think you will engage with them. If you want to see posts in the order they were posted instead, you can switch to the "Following" feed, which shows only posts from accounts you follow in reverse chronological order (newest first). This feed is not ranked by the algorithm, so you see everything from the people you follow, though it updates less frequently than the main feed.

Privacy and what other users can see about you

By default, your posts, likes, and the list of people you follow are visible to anyone on the internet, even people without an X account. Your profile shows your name, bio, profile picture, and when you joined. If you want to limit who can see your posts, you can change your account to private, which means only people you approve can follow you and see your posts. You can also block specific users or mute them (which hides their posts from your feed without them knowing).

X collects data about what you post, what you like, who you follow, and what links you click. The company uses this data to show you targeted ads and to train its algorithm. You can limit some of this tracking by going to Settings > Privacy and Safety and turning off "Allow others to find you by email" and "Allow others to find you by phone number." You cannot opt out of all data collection on X, but you can control some of what is visible to other users.

Misinformation and content moderation on X

Under previous ownership, X had teams of moderators who removed posts that violated rules about hate speech, violence, and misinformation. After Elon Musk took over, the company laid off most of these moderators and removed many of the rules. This means X now has less content moderation than it did before, and you are more likely to see false information, conspiracy theories, and hateful speech on the platform.

X does still remove some content — posts that break laws in specific countries, posts that reveal private information, and posts that threaten violence. But the bar for removal is much higher than it was before. If you see a post you believe is false or harmful, you can report it by clicking the three dots on the post and selecting "Report post," but there is no may provide it will be removed. The best defense is to think critically about what you read, check sources before sharing, and remember that posts on X are not fact-checked by the platform.

How X makes money and why ads are everywhere

X makes money from two sources: advertising and X Premium subscriptions. Most of X's revenue comes from ads — companies pay to show their ads to X users based on interests, location, and behavior. You will see ads mixed into your feed that look like regular posts but are labeled "Ad." X also sells data about user behavior to advertisers, though you cannot see this happening.

The subscription revenue from X Premium is much smaller than ad revenue, which is why X still shows ads to Premium subscribers and why the company continues to push the algorithm to keep you on the platform longer. The longer you spend on X, the more ads you see, and the more data X collects about you. If you want to see fewer ads, paying for X Premium does not eliminate them — it only reduces them slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my posts or my entire account?

Yes. To delete a single post, click the three dots on the post and select "Delete." To delete your entire account, go to Settings > Account > Deactivate Account. Your account will be deactivated when ready, but X keeps your data for 30 days in case you change your mind and want to reactivate it. After 30 days, your posts and account information are deleted.

What does it mean when someone says I got "ratio'd"?

A ratio happens when a post gets more replies than likes or reposts, usually because people are disagreeing with it or making fun of it. It is not an official X feature — it is just something users say when a post is unpopular. Getting ratio'd does not affect your account, but it can mean your post upset a lot of people.

Why do some posts have a label that says "Community Notes"?

Community Notes are fact-checks written by X users, not by X itself. If enough users agree that a post is misleading, a note appears below it with context or corrections. The system is crowdsourced, so the accuracy of Community Notes varies. You can add a note to a post if you have been on X for at least three months and have a good track record of helpful contributions.

Is X safe for kids?

X is technically open to anyone 13 and older, but the platform has less content moderation than it did before, which means kids may see violent, sexual, or hateful content. X does not have a separate app or mode for younger users like YouTube Kids does. Parents who want their kids to use social media should consider whether X's current moderation level is appropriate for their child's age.

Can I make money on X?

X has a program called the Creator Fund that pays users based on how many views their posts get, but the payments are small — usually a few dollars per month unless you have a very large following. You can also make money by selling products or services through X, or by using X to drive traffic to a website or other platform where you earn money. There is no may provide of income from X alone.