6 Friday Facts About X aka Twitter

Everyone has an opinion about Twitter since Elon Musk acquired it. I thought I'd do a little research and see what has really happened to the popular social medium.

Personally, my only quibble is renaming Twitter to X. I understand Mr. Musk's branding reason for doing that, but I can't seem to call it anything but Twitter.

Also, the cute little bird icon for Twitter was much more appealing than a big black X.

When I see the platform constantly labeled as "X, formerly known as Twitter," I realize I'm not the only one averse to calling it X. However, I'll attempt to call it X in this post.

FRIDAY FACTS ABOUT X aka TWITTER IN 2024

(1) 2024 X algorithm focuses on what Elon said he'd do: "promote content from a  diverse range of voices in an effort to ensure a  more inclusive and representative feed."

Diversity of viewpoints means liberal and consservative, straight and gay, Christian and non-Christian, reasonable and unreasonable, etc. I look at it this way: if a Tweet irritates, move on. It's like real life. If you don't want to see or hear those you think are obnoxious, unreasonable, or whatever, then avoid them.

In June, X began allowing users to post adult and graphic content. Users can post consensually produced NSFW—Not Suitable (or Safe) for Workplace—as long as it is prominently labeled as such. The new rules also cover AI-generated videos and images. In announcing that, Elon tweeted: "but what we enforce against hasn’t changed." Hmm. I'll definitely turn on the "hide adult content" button.

NOPE. NOT TWITTER—IT IS X!

(2) 61.2% of X users are male. 38.8% are female.

(3) X is among the top 6 social networking apps in the United States. 

(4) X has over 600 million users monthly worldwide with 50.5 million of those in the USA.

(5) Over 200 million people worldwide use X each day. 

(6) X is preparing to make “likes” private on the social network. 

To be honest, I'm not on Twitter enough to see if this has happend yet. According to X employees, the decision to hide likes is meant to encourage engagement by allowing people to favorite content that seems “edgy” when a "like" might subject them to becoming prey for trolls who disagree with that content. For those in the public eye, it's supposed to protect their image.

If 'likes" become hidden, you will be able to see who liked your posts, replies, etc. but you won't be able to see the people who liked someone else's post.

AUTHORS ON TWITTER

As an author, I don't think Twitter or any social media in and of itself can sell books. I know I've never bought a book, or anything for that matter, because I saw it on Twitter.

What a daily presence on any social media can do is make users of that social media aware of your existence as an author and possibly of your books. 

That is, if the social media algorithm allows your tweets, posts, or whatever to be seen by enough people. In today's world that usually means paying a premium for that option. What would probably serve you better is to write and publish more books.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I know a lot of people left Twitter, but it seems as if a lot stayed and more joined them. If you enjoy using Twitter, then keep doing it, but manage the time suck well.

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