Is X (formerly Twitter) Down? Thousands Report Problems
Is X (formerly Twitter) Down? Thousands Report Problems
Social media platform X, known to many as the former Twitter, experienced widespread outages on Saturday, leaving thousands of users unable to access the site or its app.
According to Downdetector, a website that tracks user reports of website and app issues, thousands of users reported problems with X’s website, app, and login pages. The issues began shortly after 1 p.m. and quickly escalated, with Downdetector receiving over 11,800 reports by 1:45 p.m.
Outage Confirmed, International Disruptions
Netblocks.org, an internet observatory, confirmed the international outages, attributing the issues to internet disruptions or filtering in a specific country. This is the second outage X has experienced in just two days, following a similar incident on Thursday evening where users were unable to use the app for several hours.
Error Message: “Something Went Wrong”
During Thursday’s outage, users attempting to load new posts (formerly known as tweets) encountered an error message stating: “Something went wrong. Try reloading.”
Elon Musk’s Impact on X
X’s current owner, Elon Musk, purchased the platform in 2022 for $44 billion. Since then, he has implemented major changes, including renaming the platform from Twitter to X and laying off approximately 80% of its staff. Musk has also reinstated numerous accounts that were previously suspended for violating Twitter’s Terms of Service.
X’s Declining User Base
Despite initial growth, X has seen its user base stagnate in recent months. Active daily users peaked at 368 million in 2022 but have since declined. Furthermore, prominent users like The Guardian newspaper, author Stephen King, and TV journalist Don Lemon have announced their departure from the platform.
Musk’s Shifting Focus
Meanwhile, Musk has indicated a shift in his focus, stating at the Qatar Economic Forum earlier this week that he plans to reduce his political involvement in the future. He acknowledged his recent political spending but cited no immediate plans for further involvement.
This recent outage and the platform’s ongoing struggles highlight the challenges X faces in maintaining user engagement and navigating the complexities of the ever-evolving social media landscape.
