(Web Desk) — In 2023, Twitter bid farewell as Elon Musk transformed it into X, signaling the end of an era. Musk’s vision for X as an “everything app” faced uncertainty, leading users to explore alternatives like Mastodon and Bluesky.
Recapping major social media events in 2023 and anticipating what’s next:
FAREWELL TO TWITTER
Over a year ago, Elon Musk took charge at Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters, ousting its CEO and initiating the transformation into X. Musk unveiled the X logo in July, marking the end of Twitter’s iconic bird symbol and brand.
“And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds,” Musk announced on the site. Despite Twitter’s historic influence on popular culture, its impact seemed to be fading.
WELCOMING X, THREADS, AND BLUESKY
Musk’s vision for X aims at creating an “everything app” similar to China’s WeChat, though its reception among U.S. and Western audiences remains uncertain. X faced an identity crisis, leading users to explore alternatives like Mastodon and Bluesky, born from Twitter under former CEO Jack Dorsey’s guidance.
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
In 2023, the spotlight turned on social media’s impact on the mental well-being of children, prompting a stern warning from the U.S. surgeon general in May. The lack of evidence regarding social media’s safety for young users led to urgent calls for immediate action from tech companies, parents, and caregivers.
Meta faced legal action in October, as dozens of U.S. states sued the company for knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that contributed to a youth mental health crisis. Former Meta engineering director Arturo Béjar testified in November about the executives’ awareness of the harms caused by Instagram, including Mark Zuckerberg’s alleged knowledge and lack of meaningful changes.
In response, Congress pushed for bipartisan regulations to protect children online, and in December, the Federal Trade Commission proposed comprehensive changes to a long-standing law, aiming to restrict targeted ads to kids under 13 by default and limit push notifications.
WHAT TO ANTICIPATE IN ’24
The arrival of AI chatbots marked the beginning of Meta’s vision for the future of human connection. Mark Zuckerberg outlined a near-future where hologram versions of friends and AI bots, featuring celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton, would enhance social media interaction.
Subscriptions emerged as a lucrative revenue stream, taking inspiration from Musk’s X, persisting and expanding despite the stabilization of the social ad market. As major elections approached in various countries, the focus on AI and social media’s role in spreading misinformation remained a central concern for social media observers.
