Twitter is officially done. The name has left the building. It’s existence is being scrubbed. While the service and app remain with its core features intact, Elon’s recent rename is jarring. It may mark a major pivot or a subtle turn. Either way, I don’t think it’s change for the better.
- X is a variable
- X is a placeholder title
- X is a Roman numeral for number ten
- X is a close-button in software
- X is a bad name for an app or service
- Does X mean “cross?”
- Does X mean “ten?”
- Does X mean anything or everything?
The single-letter name “X” is simple, maybe too simple. That’s about all it has going for it. Else, I think it’s problematic.
Here's an odd situation. When tagging my posts in WordPress, I like to use a tag for each social network I might blog about, such as Twitter or Facebook. But now I guess I should use the name “X” instead of Twitter. OK. But it sure looks weird between the “X” buttons to delete tags. It would look even worse in uppercase.
But who knows. Maybe “X” will work. It works for Microsoft with the Xbox. It works for SpaceX. But those are actual names that feature a prominent “X” in them; they’re not only a single letter.
Similar to the Facebook app with its lowercase “f”, an “X” by itself works well for a decorative icon or character. Another app, Goodreads, simply features a single lowercase “g.” But those apps and services differ because their app icons represent whole names. The “X” app, though it works as an icon, isn’t just a symbol, it’s the whole name too. So there is no actual name, unless it were spelled out as “Ex.”
Also, imagine asking someone, "Hey, are you on X?" Or saying, "Follow me on X." That's weird.
Credit Elon Musk for Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and actually making Twitter enact changes. But in my humble blogger opinion, the “X” rename is not the best move.