'X' Users React To Elon Musk's Decision To Kill Twitter's Famous Blue Bird Logo

Y X ?

Social media users are reacting to Elon Musk's latest controversy, which saw the billionaire swap out Twitter's iconic blue bird icon for an "art deco" inspired 'X'.

Musk has made a lot of controversial changes to Twitter since buying the social media site for $44 billion back in October 2022. In that short space of time Twitter has seen widespread layoffs, the introduction of a payed verification scheme, a legal name change to X Copr, tweet limits, and so, so much more.

This chaotic spiral, paired with a series of technical issues and comments from Musk regarding the site's negative cash flow and declining advertising revenue, has led many users to speculate that Twitter's reign atop the social media pantheon was finally drawing to a close.

The one constant in this sea of change has been Twitter’s borderline reassuring blue bird. The blue bird has watched over Twitter in one form or another since 2010, and it’s fair to say the vast majority are now familiar with it.

That’s got to be some pretty strong branding, right? Well, Elon Musk disagrees, and as of today has replaced the iconic blue bird with a somewhat generic X symbol. Thankfully, ‘X’, as it is now called, is a social media site, which means there is no shortage of hot takes on the controversial rebranding, many of which are less than positive about the move.

Others simply decided to wring as much amusement out of the chaotic situation as they could, with one inventive ‘X’ user even managing to crowbar an Evangelion reference into the maelstrom of reaction.

Some users took the opportunity to showcase alternative designs, which would have incorporated Musk’s fettish for all things ‘X’, while also retaining a nod to the blue bird of old.

British TV network ITV also got in on the action, revealing a new bird-based logo that, if we're being fair, seems to have had a warmer reception than Musk's Twitter rebrand. No doubt even as we speak the social media teams of countless other corporate entities are being goading into creating reactionary posts.

Musk has said that the current “minimalist art deco” X logo will probably be changed or further refined in the future, and that tweets will soon be rebranded as ‘Xs’. The questionable rebrand comes as Twitter faces increasing levels of competition from rival social media sites such as Threads, and Bluesky, which are attempting to position themselves as a viable successors.

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer

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