X Logo Takes Over Twitter’s Bird on Mobile App and HQ in 2023.
Late Friday night, Twitter unveiled a significant change to its mobile app, replacing its famous blue and white bird logo with an enigmatic “X.” This move is part of a sweeping rebranding initiative announced by the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, earlier in the month.
While the logo was initially introduced on the web and accompanied the launch of the domain X.com, Twitter.com remains operational.
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter for a staggering $44 billion late last year, revealed in a post on Sunday that the company would be bidding farewell to the Twitter brand and gradually doing away with all bird-related elements. Musk envisions transforming the platform into an “everything app” encompassing many functionalities.
The rebranding shift from Twitter to X aligns with Musk’s fondness for the letter “X,” which has already been prominently featured in his other ventures. For instance, Musk’s renowned rocket manufacturing company, SpaceX, sports an “X” in its logo. Additionally, Musk recently launched a new artificial intelligence startup called xAI, which aims to explore the fundamental nature of the universe.
In a video shared by Musk on Saturday, a massive new X logo can be seen glowing on top of the company’s headquarters, symbolizing the official transition from Twitter to X.
However, this transition has been challenging. City officials in San Francisco initiated an investigation into the company on Friday for allegedly installing the X sign on their headquarters without proper approval.
The Department of Building Inspection filed two active complaints, one for “Structure on a roof without permit” and another for “Unsafe sign” at the address of X’s headquarters.
City officials claimed that they were denied access to the roof when they sought permission from company representatives, who explained that the structure was merely a “temporary lighted sign for an event.”
San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection and X have not responded immediately to CNBC’s request for comment.
Musk’s ambitious vision for transforming Twitter into an “everything app” has raised eyebrows among business analysts, who view this rebranding as risky. The company has already faced challenges in retaining advertisers, as Musk’s changes to the platform have led some to question its safety as a marketing space for brands.
To address these concerns and strengthen the platform’s advertising appeal, Musk recently hired Linda Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal advertising executive, as CEO. This strategic move is seen as an effort to reassure advertisers and provide stability during rebranding.
In an email sent to employees on Monday, CNBC’s Sara Eisen obtained a message from Yaccarino. The email outlined X’s plans to develop various experiences in video, audio, messaging, banking, and payments that aim to “delight” users.
Yaccarino and Musk are committed to working closely with every team to ensure the entire community is updated on developments.
The logo change on the mobile app, signified by the enigmatic “X,” marks a significant milestone in the company’s rebranding journey.
As Twitter, now X, continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the world watches with anticipation to see how this transformation will shape the future of the platform and the broader digital landscape.
