Thought Leadership
Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has introduced a new messaging function under the name “XChat”. The new application is intended to replace the previous direct messages in the medium term and places great emphasis on data protection and security.
The function is currently in a beta phase and was presented to the public at the weekend.
With the introduction of XChat, Musk is increasingly competing with established services such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct. According to Musk, XChat was developed on a completely new technical basis – with the programming language Rust and encryption based on that of Bitcoin.
Encryption and self-deleting messages
A central feature of XChat is end-to-end encryption. This requires both the sender and recipient to be verified – both individuals and organizations. According to the platform operator, this system guarantees that neither third parties nor X itself can access the message content.
The encrypted conversations appear separately in the inbox and run parallel to the previous direct messages. Data protection is activated manually via a toggle switch, additionally secured by a four-digit personal PIN.
Another highlight is the option to automatically delete messages after a certain period of time – for example, after five minutes, one hour or up to four weeks. Users can set this function individually for each message.
Extended communication functions
In addition to text messages, XChat also enables audio and video calls – across all platforms, without the need for a telephone number. It will also be possible to send larger files in future, including videos, images or documents directly in the chat history.
According to Musk, these functions should help to make communication on X more independent and versatile.
Criticism and risk of confusion
As with many of Elon Musk’s announcements, this one was not without controversy. Initial users pointed out that another app with the name “XChat” already exists in the Google Play Store, but it has no connection to Musk’s platform. The similarity of the names could cause confusion.
The term “Bitcoin encryption” is also met with skepticism – experts warn against exaggerated marketing terms when it comes to sensitive issues such as data protection.
With XChat, Elon Musk is venturing a new foray into the hotly contested market for private communication. The coming months will show whether the new functions and the promise of security can prevail. One thing is clear: the competition is fierce – but Musk is known for challenging existing systems.
