Twitter undergoes radical transformation following Elon Musk's takeover

Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, the platform underwent a series of changes that affected its millions of users. Musk's initial priority was a significant reduction in the workforce, leading to layoffs. Consequently, a wave of alterations unfolded on the platform, prompting users to ask, 'Where is the old Twitter?' One of the most notable early changes involved the blue tick verification feature. Efforts were made to allow the purchase of blue ticks, which were previously granted exclusively to official institutions, organizations, and approved individuals, providing a crucial element of trust in their account representation. While this alteration drew user reactions, Musk remained attentive to the feedback. The introduction of Twitter Blue and a range of new features followed in quick succession. Golden and gray ticks were introduced alongside Twitter Blue, and notable changes included the ability to edit tweets. Twitter Blue purchasers saw an increased character limit of 4,000, and blue ticks were removed from previously verified accounts that had not made the purchase. The platform's transformations extended beyond these modifications. At one point, the Twitter logo was temporarily replaced with a coin logo, reflecting Musk's involvement as an investor. The character limit for Twitter Blue subscribers was further expanded to 10,000, and additional formatting options such as italic and bold text were introduced. Furthermore, video upload time for Twitter Blue subscribers increased to 2 hours. In summary, Twitter is no longer the same as it used to be. While users may find it challenging to adjust their habits to these changes, the discomfort caused by Musk's alterations within the first year of his ownership could potentially create opportunities for alternative applications. In recent days, there have been discussions about various companies working on new applications that could rival Twitter. Notably, it is speculated that Instagram, owned by Meta, could emerge as a strong competitor to Twitter. Ultimately, the fate of Twitter, with its still substantial user base, will be determined by time and the response of users to the changes. The emergence of alternative applications will play a crucial role in shaping user preferences and orientations.