Overview: Another Glitch Hits X (Formerly Twitter)
On Thursday night, users across the globe reported that timelines and notifications on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, had ceased to update. The outage affected both mobile and web users, making it impossible for many to view real-time posts or receive alerts from those they follow.
What Users Are Reporting
Numerous users, including this reporter, noted that their feeds had not refreshed since approximately 6 p.m. ET on May 8. Notifications also stopped functioning, severing a key engagement link between users and the platform. Frustrated users tried various fixes—from changing browsers to reinstalling the app—but none resolved the issue.
Scope and Scale of the Outage
According to Downdetector, reports of X outages surged significantly over a 24-hour period. Reddit’s unofficial X subreddit quickly filled with posts from affected users across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, sharing similar complaints and troubleshooting attempts—most of which proved ineffective.
Historical Outages at X
This is not the first time X has experienced major service disruptions. The platform suffered a widespread outage in March 2025 and similar technical failures in December 2022 and July 2023. During the March disruption, Elon Musk blamed a cyberattack—though no evidence was publicly shared to support the claim.
Potential Causes and Internal Struggles
The underlying cause of this latest incident appears to be server-side. Notably, after Musk’s acquisition of X for $44 billion in 2022, the company’s workforce was drastically reduced—from 7,500 employees to just 1,300, including only 550 full-time engineers as of early 2023. Additional layoffs in November 2024 further impacted X’s engineering capacity, potentially compounding technical vulnerabilities.
Implications for Digital Marketers and Businesses
For entrepreneurs and marketers relying on platforms like X for audience engagement, such outages can disrupt campaigns and customer outreach. Dependence on a single social platform is increasingly risky, especially when internal turmoil may affect stability.
Conclusion: Navigating the Uncertainty of Social Platforms
X’s recurring technical problems, amplified by deep staffing cuts and unclear communication strategies, continue to raise questions about its reliability. While social media remains vital, this incident underscores the importance of resilience in digital strategy. Brands and creators must prepare for instability by strengthening their presence across multiple platforms and building their own digital assets.
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