According to Digital Trends, X announced the complete replacement of its legacy DM system this week with a new encrypted communication layer called Chat. The revamped feature introduces voice and video calls, message editing and deletion, large file sharing, end-to-end encryption, and disappearing messages. Users must set up a four-digit passcode before accessing the new system, which currently supports individual and group chats with media and files. While encryption protects message content, metadata like recipient information remains unencrypted. The rollout begins immediately on iOS and web platforms, with Android support expected to follow soon.
Not Just a Facelift
This isn’t just some cosmetic update. X is fundamentally changing what it wants to be. For years, it’s been primarily a public square—a place for broadcasting thoughts and following conversations. Now? They’re coming for WhatsApp and Messenger’s lunch. Voice and video calls inside the platform? File sharing? End-to-end encryption? These are the features that define modern messaging apps, not social networks.
Here’s the thing: this move makes perfect sense when you consider Elon Musk’s “everything app” vision. He’s been talking about turning X into a platform that handles payments, content creation, and now serious communication. But can they actually pull it off? WeChat did it in China, but Western users are notoriously resistant to app consolidation.
The Security Catch
Okay, let’s talk about that “end-to-end encryption” claim. It’s definitely a step in the right direction—your actual message content should be secure from prying eyes. But metadata? That’s the who, when, and where of your conversations. And according to the announcement, that stuff isn’t getting the same protection.
So what does that mean practically? Well, while someone intercepting your data can’t read your messages, they could still figure out who you’re talking to and how often. For casual users, maybe that’s fine. But for journalists, activists, or businesses discussing sensitive information? That metadata can tell a pretty detailed story on its own. And without independent security audits, we’re basically taking X’s word that their implementation is solid.
What This Means For You
If you’re an active X user—whether you’re a creator like beingmirchi communicating with followers or a business using DMs for customer service—your workflow is about to change. Suddenly you can handle what would normally require switching to Zoom, WhatsApp, or email right inside the platform. That’s convenient, sure, but it also means X becomes stickier. The more functions you use, the harder it is to leave.
The disappearing messages feature is particularly interesting. It creates a different kind of communication dynamic—more ephemeral, less permanent. That could be great for quick coordination but problematic for record-keeping. Businesses will need to think carefully about when to use vanishing versus permanent messages.
The Real Test Begins
Now we get to see if this actually works in the wild. The rollout is starting with iOS and web users, but what about Android? That’s a huge chunk of the user base. How quickly will they get access? And more importantly, how reliable will voice and video calls be? Twitter’s infrastructure has had… let’s call them “reliability challenges” in the past.
Basically, this is X’s shot at becoming a legitimate messaging competitor. If the features work smoothly and users adopt them, it could seriously change how people think about the platform. But if it’s buggy or confusing? It’ll just become another half-baked feature that nobody uses. The next few months will tell us everything about whether X can actually become that “everything app” or if it’s spreading itself too thin.
