Twitter: A.k.a. X, one of the best microblogging space you can find
Twitter – a social media space where people connect, share, and stay in the loop. It's like an enormous virtual community where users post messages, images, and videos for the world to see. If you're curious about breaking news, engaging in conversations, or exploring various interests, Twitter has got you covered.
What is Twitter?
X, previously known as Twitter, is a prominent online social media and networking service managed by the American company X Corp., the successor to Twitter, Inc. On X, users can share text messages, images, and videos, as well as engage in various activities such as liking, reposting, commenting, direct messaging, and participating in public Spaces. Although the platform is now named X, the primary website address remains twitter.com, with the x.com domain redirecting to that address as of December 2023.
Twitter, initially launched in July 2006, gained immense popularity for its characteristic brevity, limiting posts to 140 characters, later expanded to 280 in 2017. Founded by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, Twitter quickly became a global phenomenon, with over 100 million users generating 340 million tweets daily by 2012. The service, known for its real-time nature, handled an average of 1.6 billion search queries daily. As of October 2023, X stands as the fifth most-visited website globally.
What does Twitter offer to its users?
With more than 326 million people using Twitter every month, and 80% of Twitter users accessing the site via mobile phone, it’s no wonder there are a multitude of ways to access the globally popular social networking site. While it might be tempting to brush off the original, general Twitter users should give the official iPhone Twitter app a chance.
Twitter for iPhone offers the same bright screen and feed style you’re used to. The learning curve is a slim one. You’ll need to swipe the screen to find your way around the app features.
After signing in, the screen switches to your home feed. Recent tweets, ads, and tweets Twitter believes fit your preferences will fill the screen as on the web version. Cat videos abound. Twitter may not always get related tweets right, but the relevancy aspect will improve over time.
As with the official, web-based Twitter feed, your iPhone app for Twitter will apprise you of the latest tweets. As you browse the Twitter home feed, you’ll notice a “see new tweets” prompt floating near the top of your phone’s screen.
You can choose to ignore the hovering reminder to continue scrolling and reading down your feed. You can’t get rid of the button, but at least it hovers near the top of the screen, semi out of the way.
Here is a breakdown of some of Twitter’s known and basic but effective features:
Engaging content creation and interaction
- Post content for the world to see and engage in public conversations.
- Stay updated on breaking news and follow personalized interests.
- Communicate privately with Direct Messages.
Additional context with community notes
- Stay informed with extra context through Community Notes.
Live engagement with Spaces
- Go live with Spaces for audio or stream live video.
Exclusive features with X Premium
- Subscribe to X Premium for expanded reach, a verified blue checkmark, and more.
- Earn a living by creating exclusive content for paid subscribers and sharing in ad revenue generated in replies.
Diverse content formats
- Upload and watch videos up to 3 hours in length.
- Write and read long-form posts like essays and blogs.
Business growth and community building
- Connect directly with customers to help your business grow.
- Create and join Communities around diverse topics and interests, from sports to music to technology.
Get up to date feeds
Each time you open the app, your Twitter feed will update and move you back to the top of your home feed. When you close and open the Twitter app again, you’ll lose your place. You’ll find yourself swiping down until you can return to the point where you left off. If you have a lot of chatty followers, it could prove frustrating.
Ready for a home feed update? Tap the button for a Twitter feed reload. Twitter populates home feeds with tweets, retweets, and plenty of sponsored, ad-related tweets. It’s annoying. Unfortunately, you won’t find a premium Twitter iPhone app upgrade to remove those junky tweets and ads. The only way to ditch the sponsored posts and clear your stream is to turn to third-party iOS apps like Twitterrific 5 or Tweetbot 3. Click a tweet to open up your retweet, like, and reply options.
Managing multiple Twitter accounts is possible with any of the apps, including the official Twitter app. You’ll never need to deal with the hassle of signing in and out. Even so, TweetDeck has long been the multi-account favorite due to its TweetConfirmation function. Before sending a tweet into the wild, you have to tick a box before you post. You will never tweet from the wrong account again.
But, the official Twitter app does offer exclusive features like group direct messages and instant notifications. It’s a nice perk and it's free.
What happened to Twitter?
Elon Musk, a big business person, bought Twitter in October 2022. He started buying shares in January 2022 and became the biggest owner by April. Musk wanted to change Twitter, making new things and fighting against fake accounts. Twitter's board first asked Musk to join, but he said yes and then changed his mind. On April 14, Musk offered to buy Twitter, and the board said yes on April 25. He plans to bring in new features and make Twitter a better place under his leadership.
Why is Twitter not working on iOS?
Twitter may encounter functionality issues on iOS due to various reasons:
- Internet Connectivity Problems: If cellular data or Wi-Fi network is unstable or not working properly, Twitter may behave inappropriately.
- App-related Issues: Outdated app versions or corrupted app packages can hinder proper loading.
- Software Glitches: Software issues on the iPhone can also lead to Twitter not working as expected.
Ensure a smooth Twitter experience on iOS by addressing these potential issues.
Can iPhone 6 get Twitter?
In the fast-changing world of phones, sometimes things don't match up. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which came out in 2014, were once the cool kids on the block. But times have changed. They stopped getting updates in 2019, leaving them behind with iOS 12.
Now, Twitter, a big name in social media, has moved on too. If you're still rocking an iPhone 6, here's the scoop: the latest Twitter update needs at least iOS 14. So, if your phone is stuck in the past, Twitter is waving goodbye.
Twitter alternatives: Other Social media platforms
Now, what do you do when Twitter says it's time to part ways? Don't worry, there are other options out there.
Instagram, a visual wonderland with over a billion users, is the go-to platform for sharing photos and videos. The 'Stories' feature brings a mix of spontaneity and creativity to your daily posts, but be quick—they disappear after a day. With constant uploads from users worldwide, filters, and effects, Instagram ensures your visuals always shine. Recent changes have given it a fresh, clean look, putting your images front and center.
- Visual Sharing: Over a billion users, the go-to spot for sharing photos and videos.
- Stories Feature: Mix of videos and images that vanish after a day.
- Constant Flow: Millions of new videos and photos every day.
- Filters and Effects: Spice up your posts with creative tools.
- Clean Look: Recent changes for a streamlined, clean appearance.
Facebook, a veteran since 2004, remains a versatile platform for connecting with friends, sharing content, and joining groups. From navigating the app to mastering privacy settings, Facebook offers a diverse range of features. Its journey since 2004 mirrors the evolution of the internet, and the latest version stands as a testament to its adaptability.
- Diverse Features: Navigating, posting, sharing, joining groups—Facebook has it all.
- Evolution since 2004: Constantly adapting with new features and experiences.
Snapchat
Snapchat, known for its playful vibe, allows users to send disappearing photos and videos—a unique twist in the world of social media. Its ephemeral nature makes conversations feel intimate and spontaneous, with features like disappearing messages, stories, filters, and group chats adding layers of engagement.
- Disappearing Content: Photos and videos vanish after viewing.
- Stories Feature: Share moments that disappear after 24 hours.
- Filters and Lenses: Add creativity to your snaps.
- Chat Function: Personalized conversations.
- Group Chats: Connect with multiple friends at once.
In the big world of social media, there's a lot to explore. Twitter might be moving on, but there are plenty of other platforms waiting for you. Embrace the change, and you'll find new possibilities in the digital world.
Twitter app security
Twitter doesn’t have a history of playing nice with third-party apps. If (or when) Twitter decides to change the API, other apps aren’t always able to keep up. That goes for security too.
If a problem arises, an official app like Twitter will always be the fastest at sending out updates and fixes. Choosing the Twitter iPhone app, and keeping it updated, can help to keep your Twitter account safe from hackers, bugs, or other problems.
Where can you run this program?
Access Twitter from the official Twitter app for a fuss-free, always compatible option. The official Twitter app works with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV. It requires iOS 11.0 or later. As long as you have data and WiFi, you can keep tweeting.
Our take
The official Twitter app may not seem as sexy as a third-party app, but the boatload of features and consistency make this the Twitter iPhone app to download.
Should you download it?
Yes, download the Twitter for iPhone app. Basic users shouldn’t bypass this free app in exchange for a third-party app, not when you have the features you need baked in. Power Twitter users should look elsewhere.
