Elon Musk faced criticism on social media after announcing Twitter’s rebranding decision, replacing its iconic blue bird logo with a generic-looking “X” logo
The move, which took place suddenly, sparked humorous and sarcastic responses from users. Some poked fun at the resemblance of the new “X” logo to the close icon on a computer screen.
While some users were light-hearted in their remarks, others were more critical. Gary Black, co-founder of Future Fund and a noted Tesla supporter, questioned the logic behind the rebrand, expressing concern about losing the brand equity associated with the little blue bird. Musk’s decision was seen as another controversial move in his attempts to regain advertisers and reverse revenue losses since acquiring the platform.
The “X” rebranding comes amidst a significant challenge from Meta-owned Threads, a text-based social media app that has gained millions of users since its recent launch. Musk has been vocal about his vision for an all-encompassing “super app” like China’s WeChat, which offers various services, including payments and ride-sharing.
Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino defended the rebrand, describing “X” as the future of unlimited interactivity, powered by AI, and transforming the global town square. However, Musk’s decision to rebrand Twitter had been hinted at for months, given his earlier statements about using the platform as an “accelerant to creating X, the everything app.”
Amidst the criticism, Musk seemed unfazed and even welcomed negative feedback, stating it was preferable to censorship. The future impact of this rebrand remains to be seen, as the social media landscape continues to evolve with new challenges and contenders.
