As of mid-2024, X (formerly Twitter) has undergone significant transformation under Elon Musk’s ownership. The platform has rebranded to X, aiming to become an “everything app” similar to WeChat. It has introduced longer posts, video content enhancements, and is working on integrating payment services. Yet, many users still think that Elon Musk could improve it even further by addressing the following issues.
- Content Moderation and Free Speech: There’s a delicate balance to strike between promoting free speech and moderating content to prevent misinformation, hate speech, and spam. Musk has advocated for less content moderation to foster free speech, but this has led to backlash due to increased misinformation and offensive content. Enhancing transparent, fair, and consistent content moderation policies could help regain trust from users and advertisers.
- Revenue Diversification: Musk aimed to transform X into an “everything app,” similar to WeChat in China. Expanding X’s services beyond microblogging into payments, job listings, and more comprehensive communication services could diversify revenue. Exploring new revenue streams like premium features, enhanced advertising strategies, or subscription models could make the platform financially healthier.
- User Experience: Improving the user interface and experience based on feedback could help. This includes refining the algorithm to ensure users see content that is relevant and engaging without defaulting back to a curated feed against their preferences. Also, integrating user-requested features like edit buttons, longer posts, and better media handling could enhance usability.
- Transparency and Trust: Rebuilding trust with users and advertisers through transparency in how decisions are made, how algorithms work, and how data is used. Addressing the issues with bot accounts and providing clear metrics on how they’re being dealt with could also help.
- Engagement with Users: Musk has been known for his direct engagement on the platform. Continuing this but also systematizing feedback mechanisms where user input on features and policies is seriously considered could improve platform loyalty and innovation.
- Legal and Ethical Operations: Ensuring that X operates within legal bounds globally, especially concerning privacy laws, content rights, and election integrity, would be crucial. This includes tackling the issue of “lawfare” and ensuring that the platform does not become a tool for legal manipulation.
- Innovation: Continuing to innovate in how social media can serve public conversation, news dissemination, and community building. This might include new ways of interaction, perhaps leveraging AI more effectively for personalized content without compromising user privacy.
- Rebranding and Identity: Since the rebranding to X, clarifying what X stands for, its mission, and how it differentiates itself from the former Twitter identity could attract a new user base while retaining or regaining old users.
- Addressing Political and Social Issues: Given Musk’s comments on various political issues, X could aim to be a platform that genuinely supports constructive political discourse without alienating users of different views. This might involve creating tools or spaces for healthy debates.
- Global Expansion and Local Sensitivity: Tailoring the platform to be globally accessible yet locally relevant, understanding cultural nuances, and complying with local regulations could expand its user base worldwide.
Remember, these suggestions are based on general sentiment and Musk’s own statements but implementing them would require careful consideration of the diverse and often conflicting interests of X’s global user base.
