Earlier this month it was the CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg saying, “let’s do this” to new app Threads. Now Twitter chief executive officer Linda Yaccarino has used exactly the same words to unveil the new Twitter logo, a white “X” on a black background replacing the blue bird symbol.
X is here! Let’s do this. pic.twitter.com/1VqEPlLchj
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayacc) July 24, 2023
On Sunday Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted a poll saying he planned to change the logo and asking his followers whether they would prefer blue or black colouring.
I doubt the response mattered.
Before purchasing Twitter last year Musk had tweeted:
“Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.”
With the phenomenal uptake of Threads, which has 100 million sign ups in five days, X perhaps marks the spot where Musk creates that super app.
Logos represent business's identity.
Radical changes in brand identity have occurred in banking and broadcasting to name a few industries.
In banking, The Bank of New South Wales which was branded as "The Wales" changed its name in 1982 to Westpac after amalgamating ith the Commercial Bank of Australia,
https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/westpac-group/company-overview/our-history/
The business is highly profitable.
In broadcasting the entity originating from 1925 as 2UW has changed names:
While as 2UW, in 1984, changed to "Magic 11". Nicknamed "Tragic 11", it did not last
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/broadca_au_2uw.html
https://youtu.be/Hdk8_6tCCxQ
From 1994, the entity identified as 2UW was no more and re-branded as MIX 106.5.
From 2014, MIX 106.5 became KIIS 106.5.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/KIIS_106.5
No one lost any sleep. It is a market leader.
From television, Network 10, between 1988 and 1989 identifed as "X". From 1965 to 2018 it was branded as "Ten". After 2018, it was identified as "10".
https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Network_10
Still no. 4 in the ratings.
What does it mean? It is a mixed result. Changing logos and brand identity may have business success in the cases of Westpac, formerly The Bank of NSW and KIIS 106.5.
When KIIS 106.5, formerly MIX 106.5, formerly 2UW, was formerly branded as "Magic 11" it flopped.
Successful brand name changes seem to accompany a change in the offering in the market.
So if "X" formerly known as "Twitter" has to offer more than offering the current fare of posting user vignettes and videos.
"X" has to compete with Meta's morphing of its Instagram site to Threads.
https://about.fb.com/news/2023/07/introducing-threads-new-app-text-sharing/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/06/threads-how-do-i-sign-up-and-is-it-any-different-to-twitter
In addition, like Instagram, Threads will be strict on nudity and hate speech.
But then will the bird logo representing clarity and brevity replaced by "X" marking the spot?
The brand Twitter was facing loss of subscribers and advertising revenue because of offensive content.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/24/technology/twitter-x-elon-musk.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/24/tech/twitter-rebrands-x-elon-musk-hnk-intl/index.html .
Thus there are reputational issues and the value of the "X" service to its users and advertisers.
If the status quo continues, it may not augur well for for "X".
Time will tell,
Thank you
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation
Update.
Since 07-07-2023, Threads, the morphed version of Instagram has dropped in usage by 40%+ as at 26-07-2023.
Threads has been criticised as not being fully-featured compared to Instagram.
Analysis of the distinction between Twitter and Instagram is that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5JhqYcvpUg&t=63
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2023/07/20/threads-app-usage-engagement/70419656007/
Twitter/X is more of an instant news and video while Instagram/Threads is more of a marketplace for selling items.
Again, I said that time will tell whether X will have additional features than its previous incarnation as Twitter and become a market leader.
Otherwise changing names, continuing the status quo and not adding and improving features will not augur well for X.
Time will tell
Thank you
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Natio
Update or has the plans to rebrand X been known since November 2022?
It appears that X is positioning itself to "compete" with YouTube by providing live video, longer video durations and longer-form text displays.
The genesis of Twitter providing for longer videos and competing with YouTube had its genesis in 2015.
https://www.neowin.net/news/twitter-is-building-its-own-video-service-wants-to-compete-with-youtube/
The barrier to entry is the expertise in developing the technology to serve large amounts of video data.
The business model also includes to monetize content production by paying content provders through sybscriptions or donations.
Consequently X becomes a ticket clipper in addition to sourcing revenues from advertising.
https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/tech/elon-musk-twitter-features-youtube-substack
If more value is being added while rebranding, one wonders how that is being achieved with fewer staff.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-05/twitter-sacks-half-of-staff-as-musk-launches-overhaul/101620102
It appears that more can be achieved with less.
Time will tell
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation