The social media network X, which is owned by Elon Musk, has started introducing a new direct messaging (DM) function to its beta users.
Beta testers are now getting access to XChat, the company’s new direct messaging function.
X’s current messaging capability will be effectively replaced by the new DM interface. Because the current DM feature would be redundant with the new rollout of XChat, X has stopped encrypting it.
XChat has been accessible to a few beta testers who have purchased X’s membership service. Nima Owji, an independent researcher, verified that the feature is functional and has a number of contemporary characteristics. A restricted version of encrypted messaging was previously available to X users with a paid membership for a period of two years. Nima Owji also told TechCrunch that the new messaging system seemed to be ready to go live; some X users who purchase the platform’s subscription plan have claimed to be able to access XChat.
The goal of XChat is to be a more powerful version of X’s current direct messaging (DM) capability, which dates back to when Elon Musk bought Twitter.
The upcoming release of XChat may be connected to X’s announcement on Thursday that it was halting development of its encrypted direct messages functionality, as the new system would make the current DMs interface outdated. For the past two years, X’s paid subscribers have had access to a restricted version of encrypted communications.
Advanced group messaging/conversations, end-to-end encryption, disappearing vanishing mode which deletes communications automatically after a predetermined amount of time, marking messages as unread, and file sharing are some of the features that have been speculated to be included in XChat, according to Owji. Additionally, messages seem to be protected by a four-digit passcode.
Because the current DM interface would become outdated due to the new system, X announced on Thursday that it was halting development of its encrypted DM functionality. This announcement may be connected to the upcoming release of XChat. For the past two years, X’s paid subscribers have had access to a restricted version of encrypted communications.
Musk has expressed his desire to include a messaging service similar to Signal-like encryption since he took over the social networking site X on multiple occasions in the years since he acquired Twitter and the new DM function will provide it. Musk may be pursuing that objective with this announcement if XChat is indeed preparing for public use. And it might appear that a four-digit passcode protects messages.
In the past, Musk has expressed aspirations to transform X—formerly known as Twitter—into a “everything app.” The platform has been developing X Money, a digital transaction platform integrated within X, in order to achieve this goal.
The digital wallet is expected to emerge later in 2025, and Visa has stepped in to power it.