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X Suffers Biggest Outage Since Musk’s Takeover

X Suffers Biggest Outage Since Musk’s Takeover

Since the billionaire acquired the social media site previously referred to as Twitter, Elon Musk’s X has experienced its largest outage. This was a brief but broad disturbance that seemed to be ending.

Downdetector, which is  responsible for monitoring website as well as service disruptions, states that as of 1:41 p.m. Hong Kong time on Thursday, over 94,000 users of X encountered problems with the website. An hour later, there were only roughly 7,000 difficulties reported by users.

Since Musk purchased the San Francisco-based site for a total of $44 billion at the end of 2022, there have been several disruptions, but none as significant as the one that occurred in July of that year, which impacted about 50,000 users, till this week.

X Suffers Biggest Outage Since Musk’s Takeover

Image Source: deadline.com

The most recent incident’s cause is unknown. Approximately seventy percent of the reports mentioned problems with X’s app, and twenty percent mentioned problems with its website.

Regarding the disturbance, X’s official account remained silent. “Busy now, please check back later” was an automated reply sent in an email to the organization’s press center.

Since Musk bought X in 2022 for the price of $44 billion, the firm has been beset with problems. Subsequently, there have been several job cuts, particularly of engineers and other essential personnel in charge of platform maintenance, customer care, and averting service disruptions.

Rumors have Surfaced After Musk’s Takeover

Since Musk’s takeover, there have additionally been an abundance of rumors and reports regarding X.

Significant adjustments have been made to the verification procedure, API availability, cancellations of bans for individuals deemed problematic, and a major rebranding from “Twitter” to “X.”

Now that he’s changed the platform, Musk has made it clear that he wants to prioritize free expression for all. Additionally, the businessman became the executive chair as well as the chief technology officer of the company, replacing his previous position as CEO of Twitter/X.

Even after X was made available to customers globally again, thousands of individuals are still reporting problems with the app. Thousands of people commented on a PopCrave tweet that said that Twitter/X is now back up despite an hour-long downtime, discussing the outage and its effects on different users.

“One person wrote, "We're back but this app is still broken." Another user commented, "As a professional X content creator this outage has been devastating for me, anyone else feel the same?" A third person said, "I was really crying & throwing up because I thought my Twitter was gone."

"The app is still kinda broken, sometimes it says to try again when posting even tho it's already posted, it also doesn't show the views.." a fourth wrote.

yahoo.com
Brazil PM's Wife Clashes With Elon Musk Over Hacked X (Twitter) Account

Brazil PM’s Wife Clashes With Elon Musk Over Hacked X (Twitter) Account

In a clash between Brazil’s First Lady, Rosangela da Silva, known as Janja, and tech mogul Elon Musk, the discourse over responsibility and swift action has ignited following the hacking of Janja’s social media account on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

The Hacking Incident and Musk's Response

The incident, occurring on December 11, gained national attention in Brazil as the hacker posted offensive content, including lewd images and insults targeting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Janja’s profile boasting 1.2 million followers. Janja swiftly condemned the breach, labeling it as misogynistic.

Brazil PM's Wife Clashes With Elon Musk Over Hacked X (Twitter) Account

Image Source: humnews.pk/

However, tension escalated when Musk, the owner of X since last year, dismissed any accountability on his platform for the security breach. In a response to allegations, Musk defended his company stating, “It is not clear how someone guessing her email password is our responsibility,” in a tweet addressing the legal threat from Janja.

Janja's Accusations and Calls for Accountability

Janja retaliated, accusing Musk of downplaying the severity of the event and neglecting the platform’s responsibility to promptly address such cybercrimes. She emphasized that the issue transcended personal inconvenience, highlighting the broader impact on women users facing similar risks daily on the platform.

Expressing her disappointment in Musk’s response, Janja characterized it as “symptomatic” of his tendency to engage in clashes with critics on the platform.

Legal Threat and Pursuit for Swift Action

With her account compromised, Janja took a decisive stance, threatening legal action against X. She criticized the platform’s delayed response to her requests to freeze the account, remove the offensive content, and facilitate her regaining control over her profile.

Janja reiterated her commitment to holding the platform accountable, emphasizing the necessity for swift action and an increased sense of responsibility from X in addressing security breaches and cybercrimes within its domain.

The clash between the First Lady of Brazil and Musk underscores the escalating concerns over platform accountability, user security, and the obligation of tech companies to promptly address cybercrimes. As the discourse continues, it brings to light the evolving challenges faced by social media platforms in ensuring the safety and protection of their users.

How to Download Videos from X (Formerly Twitter)?

How to Download Videos from X (Formerly Twitter)?

Although Twitter debuted as a micro-blogging platform, it has evolved into a massive social media platform that offers a wide variety of information in many formats. The platform, which is now called X, is a hub for original producers who only provide content as well as viral videos. If you frequent X, you have probably seen a video you liked and wanted to show your friends even if they don’t use the platform. Take a look at these short ways to download a 2023 X/Twitter video. 

Use the App itself to Download Videos from X (Twitter).

How to Download Videos from X (Formerly Twitter)?

Image Source: lifewire.com

Only Blue members have the ability to download videos from Twitter natively. It’s possible that not every video on the site can be downloaded, though.

Video owners have the authority to determine if other people who use the app are permitted to save the video to their respective devices.

Step 1: On your smartphone, open the X app and choose the video you wish to download.

Step 2: Verify that the video is playing in its entirety.

Step 3: In the upper-right corner of the screen, press the ellipses in step three. 

Step 4: Choose Download video in step four. 

Your device will save the video.

Another Approach is to Download a Video Straight From the X App

A different method exists for downloading a video from X that does not need fullscreen mode. Although there is nothing inappropriate with this strategy, users may occasionally decide not to view videos, particularly if they are in the public eye and also do not have headsets on. Fortunately, X lets you download a video without ever viewing it. This is the method.

Step 1: Open the post with the clip on your phone by using the X app.

Step 2: Hold down the video for a prolonged period of time until a menu appears.

Step 3: Select “Download video.”

Make use of a Third-Party Tool

Even for Twitter Blue members, downloading videos from Twitter to a Desktop is not possible natively, therefore you will want the assistance of a third-party software. Here’s the way to use the Twitter Vid tool to accomplish that.

To Download Movies from X, Use a Chrome Extension.

It might be time-consuming to constantly switch to a third-party software if you frequently save Twitter videos to your computer. You’d be better off with a Chrome addon. You may download any video from Twitter using the extremely useful addon provided by Twitter Vid, the third-party utility we previously highlighted. 

Musk Tells X Staff New Products Will Challenge YouTube, LinkedIn

LinkedIn and YouTube Days are Over? Musk Hints at New Video and Professional Platform

In a landmark all-company meeting held to commemorate one year since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, the social media site now known as X, both Musk and X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, unveiled ambitious plans that may put YouTube and LinkedIn on the defensive. This meeting, the first time Musk and Yaccarino jointly addressed the entire company, marked a significant shift in X’s strategic direction.

Musk Tells X Staff New Products Will Challenge YouTube, LinkedIn
Image Source: tech.hindustantimes.com

Musk, the world’s richest man, made headlines in October 2022 when he closed a $44 billion deal to take Twitter private, subsequently implementing sweeping changes within the platform, which led to the departure of numerous executives and staff. During the recent meeting, Musk and Yaccarino made it clear that their vision for X extends beyond being a mere social media platform.

The duo identified YouTube and LinkedIn as future competitors while hinting at plans to challenge them with yet-to-be-disclosed products. These products, shrouded in secrecy, have left industry experts and X users curious about what innovations Musk and Yaccarino have in store.

One striking revelation from the meeting was the mention of “XWire,” a news wire service that aims to rival Cision’s PR Newswire. While details about XWire remain scarce, this announcement underlines X’s expanding influence in the media and information-sharing landscape.

Linda Yaccarino, who assumed the role of X’s CEO in May after a distinguished career at NBCUniversal, has focused on nurturing relationships with advertisers. In contrast, Musk has been on a mission to revamp the platform. He introduced premium subscriptions, redefined account “verification,” and harnessed the power of crowd-sourced fact-checking through the Community Notes feature.

As X charts its course, the executives seem confident in their platform’s direction, emphasizing the rapid growth they’ve witnessed over the past year. They proudly point to an impressive user base of 500 million, although some third-party estimates cast doubt on the accuracy of this figure.

Although the specifics of X’s impending competition with YouTube and LinkedIn remain unclear, the message from Musk and Yaccarino indicates a determination to challenge the status quo. This news comes on the heels of their recent internal memo, where they stated that X is “now positioned for growth” and highlighted “a decade’s worth of innovation in just 12 months” on the platform.

Also Read: Apple Raises Prices of TV+ to $9.99 from $6.99 per Month

In addition to these plans, X is exploring opportunities in the payments sector, aiming to provide enhanced financial tools that will offer more opportunities to individuals and businesses. This expansion beyond social media into the realms of news wire services, video, and financial technology signals X’s ambitions to diversify and become a multifaceted player in the digital landscape.

The future holds exciting prospects for X and its users as they eagerly await the unveiling of Musk and Yaccarino’s groundbreaking initiatives that could reshape the digital world and redefine the competition with industry giants like YouTube and LinkedIn.

Will X’s Addition of Audio and Video Calling Create Stickiness in the App?

Will X’s Addition of Audio and Video Calling Create Stickiness in the App?

Elon Musk’s recent announcement regarding the introduction of audio and video calling features on X, formerly known as Twitter, has sparked curiosity and speculation among users and tech enthusiasts. This move aligns with Musk’s ambitious plan to transform X into an “everything app” that encompasses a wide range of services, from online payments to news and even food delivery.

Will X’s Addition of Audio and Video Calling Create Stickiness in the App?
Image Source: robots.net

While the new feature has generated excitement, not all X users currently have access to it, and the company hasn’t provided a clear timeline for a widespread rollout. Additionally, there’s been speculation, based on code discovered by tech veteran Chris Messina, that these audio and video calls may be reserved for subscribers, indicating a potential premium feature.

The introduction of premium features is not surprising in the tech world, but it raises questions about how these services will be managed. Some early users have reported that they can screen calls by specifying criteria such as verified users, people they follow, and contacts in their address book. This suggests that X aims to provide a level of control and privacy for its users.

However, X’s recent silence on the matter, responding to inquiries with automated messages after Musk’s takeover, leaves many wondering about the reasoning behind this new feature. Elon Musk has been vocal about his desire to transform X into a platform akin to China’s WeChat, a super-app that facilitates everything from shopping to communication. Yet, his initial vision for X.com, dating back to 1999, was primarily a financial services app, encompassing banking, digital transactions, and more.

The introduction of audio and video calling may appear incongruent with X’s financial services aspirations, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the user experience. Getting a phone call on a social media platform primarily designed for consuming information is an unexpected twist, particularly if it’s from an unfamiliar verified X user.

Nonetheless, Musk’s strategy might be to emulate companies like Uber and Amazon, creating stickiness within the X app by offering an expanding array of services. Uber evolved from a ride-hailing service to providing food delivery, boat charters, and more. Amazon used products like Alexa to drive additional revenue to its core business.

The big question is whether this approach will succeed for X. Users might initially be drawn to X for its signature content like live Spaces and entertaining posts. Still, they could stay for the convenience of internet-enabled phone calls, long-form content, and high-yield savings accounts, especially if these features are limited to subscribers. This approach could potentially become a revenue driver for X.

Also Read: Alphabet Shares Fall After Cloud Unit Misses Estimates

However, there’s a significant caveat to this strategy. Musk’s success in executing his grand vision hinges on both technical challenges and the regulatory environment. Unlike China, the U.S. maintains a close watch on tech companies to prevent monopolistic practices and protect competition.

In conclusion, while the addition of audio and video calling to X might seem unexpected in light of its financial services focus, it could potentially serve as a strategy to create user “stickiness” within the app. The ultimate success of this move will depend on how well Musk can execute his broader plans while navigating regulatory scrutiny. X users will have to wait and see how this ambitious transformation unfolds.

X Faces European Union Investigation for Israel-Palestine Content

X Faces European Union Investigation for Israel-Palestine Content

The European Commission has initiated a thorough investigation into social media giant X amid escalating concerns over the proliferation of misinformation and illegal content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. This move comes despite executives from the platform, previously known as Twitter, asserting their commitment to cracking down on such content following the recent attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

X Faces European Union Investigation for Israel-Palestine Content
Image Source: nationalheraldindia.com

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of the platform, revealed in a post on X that the company had taken substantial measures to combat the surge in propaganda and depictions of violence on its platform. Yaccarino stated that hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts had been removed, showcasing the platform’s purported dedication to eradicating content that violates community standards.

Moreover, Yaccarino claimed that thousands of pieces of content had either been labeled or removed since the outbreak of the conflict around the Gaza Strip. This assertion aligns with the platform’s insistence that it is actively working to address the concerns raised by the European Union regarding the moderation of illicit posts, photos, and videos depicting the ongoing carnage.

In response to inquiries from a top European Union official regarding the steps X was taking to moderate the content, Yaccarino shared a letter on the platform. In the letter, she detailed the company’s intensified efforts, explaining, “In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we’ve redistributed resources and refocused internal teams who are working around the clock to address this rapidly evolving situation.”

Also Read: Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Cleared by Britain

Despite these assurances, the European Commission remains steadfast in its investigation, highlighting the growing pressure on social media platforms to adopt more stringent content moderation measures. The 27-nation bloc’s scrutiny reflects a broader international concern over the role of social media in disseminating potentially harmful content during times of conflict and crisis.

As the investigation unfolds, X faces the challenge of proving the effectiveness of its content moderation policies and responding adequately to the European Union’s apprehensions. The outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications not only for the platform but also for the broader debate surrounding the responsibilities of social media companies in the face of global conflicts.