TwitterX; Twitter changes from Larry the Bird to an X - what is Elon Musk’s fascination with the letter?

It’s been a while since we last discussed Elon Musk’s latest efforts regarding Twitter, the social media platform he vowed to save and create a bastion of free speech when he bought the company in late 2022. Things have appeared to be rather quiet in light of Meta’s answer to Twitter, Threads, at the moment seemingly taking the mantle of microblogging platform du jour.

But for those worried about his silence, be relieved that not only has there been an announcement regarding a change to Twitter, but those waking up thinking they’re being fished with a new logo and log-in screen can rest assured that the platform has not been hacked or sold on - instead, it’s part of a rebrand for the one time giant.

The "minimalist art deco" X, is part of a rebranding effort for the platform ahead of an intended “everything app” Musk intends to launch in the future, akin to perhaps Meta and their range of online apps that are joined at the hip by log in details (in the case of Instagram and Threads). Musk had sought design ideas from his 149 million followers and ultimately settled on the "X" logo, once again demonstrating somewhat of a fascination with the letter.

Inspired by a concept from WeChat, a popular Chinese app that combines various functionalities like messaging, ride-hailing, and bill payments, Musk sees Twitter as a potential vehicle to realise his vision of an all-encompassing platform, and prior to acquiring Twitter in October, he referred to it as an "accelerant to creating X, the everything app."

The X concept, according to Musk, would be powered by artificial intelligence and centred around audio, video, messaging, and payments/banking capabilities. This would enable users to perform multiple functions seamlessly within the platform. Twitter's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, confirmed the logo change and expressed excitement for the transformation, posting an image to Instagram earlier this morning with the logo projected onto the side of Twitter’s office space.

So why “X” once again for Elon Musk, who already has “SpaceX” and at one time was rumoured to have wanted to change PayPal, the business that helped lead to his internet fortune, to “X” until other investors in the project ultimately rebuffed his “vision”?

What is Elon Musk’s fascination with the letter “X”?

You’re not mistaken at all - Elon Musk, with “X”, “SpaceX” and the news that we’d be making “X-Transactions” on eBay and online if he had his way with PayPal. Several times he has mentioned his fondness for the 24th letter in the alphabet.

However, each instance of the use of the letter has its own particular meaning, leaving Musk with ample room to explain away why he’s obsessed with the letter. In an interview with Joe Rogan in May 2020 (you know the one), he explained the significance of the letter in his son’s name - X Æ A-12. Musk stated that the “X” in his son’s name represents “the unknown variable,” with “X” at times being used as a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.

As for the name "SpaceX," Musk hasn't explicitly explained the specific reason for choosing "X," but it is speculated that it is related to the "X" used in the names of experimental aircraft and rockets developed by various government agencies and companies. The "X" in "SpaceX" might signify the company's experimental and innovative approach to space exploration and technology.

The letter might also summarise Musk’s knack of investing in businesses that may also change how things are done or how technology can assist us going forwards. Rather than just being a reality competition, “the X factor” has long been used as a phrase to highlight a special talent or quality someone, or something could have.

Perhaps the “X” in Musk’s forthcoming “everything app” might have something special that revolutionises the automation we deal with day to day in our lives, or perhaps Elon regards himself as an “X factor” in terms of his special talents forming SpaceX, growing Tesla and creating PayPal.

Twitter at this stage remains to be seen.