X, formerly Twitter, marks 20 years: From blue bird to Elon Musk's transformation

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, celebrates its 20th anniversary on Wednesday, March 15th. Since its inception, the service has evolved from a platform for sharing short status updates to a real-time public forum for trending topics, incorporating features like video support, live streaming, and communities. It has enabled artists, athletes, and politicians to connect with their followers and has been a conduit for significant announcements, such as the confirmation of actor Chadwick Boseman's death in 2020, which became one of the platform's most poignant tweets. The service was launched to the public on July 15, 2006, with its first post, "Estou criando minha conta Twttr," by co-founder Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006. The first tweet was later sold as an NFT for over $2.9 million. Over the years, Twitter became a direct communication channel for celebrities, athletes, politicians, and businesses. Currently, Elon Musk's account is the most popular with 240 million followers, surpassing former U.S. President Barack Obama's account, which previously held the top spot with 119 million followers. In Brazil, football player Neymar Jr. leads with 63 million followers. The platform also played a role in popularizing memes and viral phenomena, such as Ellen DeGeneres's 2014 Oscar selfie featuring numerous stars, which became one of the most liked photos in history. The most tumultuous period began in April 2022 when Elon Musk offered to purchase Twitter for approximately $44 billion. After months of negotiation and uncertainty, the acquisition was finalized in October 2022. Musk initiated a significant restructuring, including leadership changes, mass layoffs, and policy alterations, leading to increased scrutiny over misinformation and content moderation. Musk's emphasis on free speech principles also prompted user dissatisfaction, with some migrating to rival platforms like Bluesky and Threads. In July 2023, the Twitter brand was retired, and the iconic blue bird logo was replaced by the letter 'X,' aligning with Musk's vision of transforming the platform into a multi-service "super app." This rebranding was accompanied by changes to account verification, the introduction of paid products, relaxed platform rules, and adjustments for developers. The relationship between X and Brazilian authorities became particularly strained in 2024, culminating in the temporary suspension of the service in the country. In August 2024, the company closed its Brazilian office, citing threats of legal action against its local representative by Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes if judicial orders were not fulfilled. When the platform failed to appoint a new legal representative as ordered by Moraes, he mandated the suspension of X across Brazil, a measure that was lifted approximately 40 days later.