Elon Musk has further engaged in private communication with the introduction of X Chat, a new messaging service embedded directly within X (formerly Twitter). Aimed as a formidable competitor to WhatsApp and India’s local Arattai, X Chat emphasizes security, providing users with greater control over their conversations and personal information. In his announcement on X, Musk articulated his long-held vision of evolving the platform into a comprehensive communication hub, stating, “X just rolled out an entire new communications stack with encrypted messages, audio/video calls and file transfer.” This launch is another stride toward his broader goal of converting X into an all-inclusive ecosystem.
Musk also indicated that X Money, the platform’s integrated financial service, will be available “soon,” aligning with his “everything app” vision. X Chat’s primary attraction is its advanced privacy features. All messages, including group chats and shared media, are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access them. While the platform does recognize that some metadata, such as recipient details, is not encrypted, this upgrade is significant, especially compared to apps like Arattai, which still does not provide full encryption support. In addition to encryption, X Chat allows users to edit, delete, or set messages to self-destruct after sending.
Deleted messages disappear entirely without leaving any trace or a “This message was deleted” notification, distinguishing it from WhatsApp’s method. Users can also time disappearing messages, automating chat clean-ups for enhanced privacy. A notable feature is the ability to block screenshots. Users can prevent others from capturing their conversations and can activate alerts that notify them whenever someone attempts to take a screenshot of a direct message or group chat. This significantly enhances user control over how their conversations are stored or shared. X Chat also offers a clean, ad-free interface. Musk’s platform is launching this new messaging service without advertisements and assures it will not track user data, appealing to those increasingly worried about digital privacy.
The service combines the older X DMs with the new X Chat interface, creating a seamless, unified inbox. The company is also set to introduce voice memos, adding another layer to communication on the platform. Currently, X Chat is available on iOS and via the web, integrated into the existing DMs section of X. Android users will have to wait a bit longer, but the company has stated that the rollout for this platform is forthcoming. With a strong focus on privacy, an ad-free experience, and Musk’s ambition to transform X into a multifunctional platform, X Chat positions itself as a significant new player in the competitive messaging app landscape.