Over the weekend, and following the announcement that Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Xbox, a wave of claims began circulating online. Some accused her of being AI-generated. Others suggested she was faking her tweets. Just about every angle was picked apart.

That speculation reached her, prompting Sharma, on her very first day in the role, to respond directly. She replied to Ryan McCaffrey of IGN, firmly denying the claims.

Now, I’d love to say this will put people’s minds at ease, but I can already imagine the grifters finding a new angle to complain about. Still, I come bearing what should be good news, at least if you genuinely care about Xbox.

So, let’s take a look at exactly what was said. It was a wild weekend for Xbox fans, and Monday did not slow things down either. Between "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign failures and the many takes on X about Sharma as CEO, the conversation quickly spiralled out of control.

Some of it was cautiously optimistic. A lot of it was not. A few people on X (and I will not name names), accused Sharma of being a fake gamer. Others went as far as suggesting she was an AI bot.

Ryan McCaffrey shared his concerns as well, though in a far more thoughtful way. He suggested she may at least have someone more knowledgeable about video games nearby, helping her navigate things. Sharma saw the post and responded this morning, stating:

That response certainly challenges the claims being made, whether people choose to believe her or not. She has also spent the weekend replying to fans directly on X. We covered several of the more notable exchanges already, and they are worth checking out.

Personally, I have been impressed so far, cautiously so. Xbox has a lot to prove.

As much as I believe Phil is the reason we even have an Xbox to criticise today, it was in need of fresh energy. I am hopeful this could be that shift. As her team begins to take shape, it will hopefully not be long before we start seeing what the future of Xbox actually looks like.

Are you satisfied with Asha Sharma's response?

Do you believe Asha Sharma’s response has addressed the concerns, or do you think Xbox still has more to prove under its new leadership? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you've been trying to log on to X.com in the last hour or so, you've likely been met with an error. That's because the website is experiencing a major outage that has knocked the platform offline.

If you try to access X or X Pro right now, you'll likely see an error that says the website cannot be reached, or you'll be stuck with a blank timeline. If you're using the app, you'll likely see your feed from earlier in the day, but attempting to load new content or engage with content will result in an error. Attempting to make any posts or send messages will also result in an error if you're in a region that's impacted by the outage.

X is yet to make a statement on the outage.

This isn't the first major outage X has experience in recent months. Not too long ago, a major Cloudfare outage impacted hundreds of websites from Uber to X, locking users out of those services.

X has come under fire recently for its Grok AI, which recently gained the ability to undress people using AI. The company was slow to address this problem, but the company now says that Grok should no longer be able to do this.

The feature sparked major backlash, and has caused governments in regions like the UK to consider blocking access to X / Grok. It's an example of AI being used for bad, and X is the first high-profile platform to allow such a feature to be readily accessible by the public. ChatGPT, Copilot, and other popular chat services often block these sort of requests.

Let us know if you've been struggling to access X.com in the comments below.

If you've been trying to log on to X.com in the last couple of hours, you've likely been met with an error. That's because network security service Cloudflare is down, knocking out access to hundreds of websites and services such as ChatGPT, Uber, and yes, X.

If you try to access X or X Pro right now, you'll likely see a Cloudflare error, or if you can get the site to load, you'll see that nothing actually appears in your feed or explore pages. Attempting to make any posts or send messages will result in an error if you're in a region that's impacted by the outage.

Cloudflare says it is aware of the outage and is "continuing working on restoring service for application services customers." There's currently no ETA for when Cloudflare will be back online.

"We have made changes that have allowed Cloudflare Access and WARP to recover. Error levels for Access and WARP users have returned to pre-incident rates. We have re-enabled WARP access in London," a recent update from Cloudflare reads.

Outages like this often cause major disruption, and with services like Uber and ChatGPT out of action in a number of regions, it's going to be a tough few hours for the engineers at Cloudflare.

If you're one of millions of people trying to tweet about the outage, you're going to have to wait for Cloudflare to restore its services, which could take anywhere from a few minutes to a number of hours.

Cloudflare is in use by some of the top websites online, so when its services are impacted, the fallout is experiences across the globe. If you're able to access a website right now, it's likely because they don't use Cloudflare or you're in a region where the Cloudflare network is unaffected.

Let us know if you've been struggling to access X.com in the comments below.

Over the past few months, OpenAI has seemingly made subtle moves in a bid to diversify its portfolio from just developing AI models and ChatGPT to the recently rumored screenless ChatGPT smartphone in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive.

And as it now seems, the company may cast its net even wider. According to a report by The Verge, the ChatGPT maker is developing a social network platform to take on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) and Mark Zuckerberg's Meta apps.

However, the details about this new development are slim at best, as it is still in the early stages. The Verge notes an internal prototype with a social feed for ChatGPT's image generation.

Interestingly, the report suggests that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is actively soliciting feedback about the project, potentially indicating he is trying to assess whether it will be a worthwhile venture to dabble in.

To that end, it remains unclear whether the social network will ship as a standalone app or be integrated into ChatGPT, allowing OpenAI to tap into the AI app's broad user base.

According to people familiar with the project, OpenAI's social network will be designed to help people share better content. "The Grok integration with X has made everyone jealous," an anonymous OpenAI staffer said. “Especially how people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid.”

In February, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman quoted a report from CNBC about Meta's plan to release a standalone Meta AI app to give OpenAI's ChatGPT a run for its money. "Lol, if Facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them, it would be so funny," added Altman.

In the same month, Sam Altman took a stab at Elon Musk by offering to buy X for $9.74 billion. "Swindler," an enraged Elon Musk responded. This is in response to the billionaire attempting to acquire OpenAI for $97.4 billion.

As you may know, Elon Musk has filed two lawsuits against OpenAI, citing a stark betrayal in its founding mission and involvement in racketeering activities.

To that end, if OpenAI moves forward with the rumored plans to develop a social network, it could gain access to untapped data to train its flagship AI models amid reports that scaling laws have begun to stunt AI progression.

Last week, xAI acquired X for $33 billion. Elon Musk was seemingly stoked, indicating "xAI and X's futures are intertwined." The acquisition shows great potential for Grok as xAI can leverage X's vast database to train Grok, potentially giving OpenAI's new ChatGPT-4o image generator tool a run for its money.

While this might be in the pipeline, X was recently hit by a massive data leak featuring 2.8 billion Twitter IDs, potentially impacting over 200 million users (via Safety Detectives).

According to the information shared by ThinkingOne, the data breach likely took place during the massive layoffs at X. Interestingly, the bad actors claim they attempted to reach X via multiple platforms, but their efforts were rendered futile.

This potentially explains why the information seemed to be under the wraps, which fueled the attackers' frustration, prompting them to release the information to the public for free. The information featured the data obtained during the recent company-wide layoffs, coupled with another data breach from January 2023.

For context, the 2023 data breach impacted over 209 million X users, exposing their email addresses, usernames, followers count, and account creation dates. However, the massive data breach was watered down, with X claiming that the leak only featured publicly available data.

The company claimed that the bad actors didn't access any sensitive data. However, cybersecurity experts indicated that the data breach posed a great risk as a combination of emails and public data could heavily prompt phishing attempts by attackers.

But as it now seems, the recent data breach was more critical in comparison. While the bad actors didn't access email addresses, it included location and time zone settings, tweet count and timestamps of the last tweet, source of the last tweet, status settings, and more.

Was X's massive data breach an inside job?

While speaking to Forbes via email, ThinkingOne indicated that they didn't see themselves as a hacker, but a data enthusiast attempting to do everything "legal."

It's worth noting that the data released to the public is a combination of the 2023 and 2025 leaks compressed into a 34 GB CSV file. While the data features over 201 million entries, it only includes data belonging to users who were impacted by both incidents.

ThinkingOne confirmed to Forbes:

“The dataset leaked in January, 2025 included over 2.8 billion unique Twitter IDs and screennames. I checked a representative sample of 100 and 92 had the correct user ID and screenname."

The data enthusiast expressed concern over the massive data breach that impacted millions of users. “How could someone enumerate all Twitter user IDs, unless they were an employee or this was a very serious hacking job?” ThinkingOne added.

We'll keep tabs on this story as it unfolds and keep you posted on any new developments as they unfold.

With 2024 coming to an end, online services across the net have been providing users with a recap of their year on the service. The most famous example is Spotify Wrapped, which is highly anticipated every December and this year even featured its own AI-generated podcast with hosts discussing your listening habits.

One such service that doesn't have a recap feature but definitely should is Twitter/X. If you're active on this social media platform, it would be fun to see your activity throughout the year. Luckily, a new AI-powered tool called "Twitter Wrapped 2024 by Exa.AI" lets you quickly create a recap of your Twitter account in a matter of seconds.

All you need to do is type your Twitter username into the website, and within a few seconds you'll have a complete 2024 recap generated for free. It's pretty awesome, and breaks down your account into relevant categories and showcases your most popular tweets and genres you associated with this year.

• Generate your Twitter Wrapped 2024

My recap says I spent a lot of the year roasting Microsoft, which sounds accurate. It's genuinely interesting to see how detailed the recap is and makes me wish X would create its own recap feature for next year.

Exa.AI is an API that markets itself as "the first meaning-based web search powered by embeddings" that "unlocks data no other search can, making your AI more relevant, factual, and reducing hallucinations." It's not associated with Twitter/X, but the API is able to scrape your account to create a detailed recap. Be sure to checkout the Exa.AI website if you want to learn more about how it works.

With 2024 coming to a close, it's interesting to look back at everything you've done and achieved throughout the year. Xbox even make its own with the Xbox Year in Review Recap, which showcases all the games you've played this year and for how long. It's all super interesting.

What you need to know

• Microsoft recently announced that it had joined Bluesky alongside Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) amid unfavorable new terms and conditions.
• The Redmond giant says the platform provides a connected digital platform that bolsters innovation and promotes its inclusivity and empowerment values.
• Windows Central and many of our staff members are also on Bluesky and are available to follow as a starter pack.

Microsoft recently announced that it has hopped onto the Bluesky train. Frank X. Chaw, Microsoft's Chief Communication Officer, made the announcement via LinkedIn, indicating, "We aspire to be where our customers, partners, and even competitors gather, engaging with them in the places they call home." Microsoft claims that it views Bluesky as more than a social network, but a platform that provides a "connected digital ecosystem" that bolsters the user experience and innovation.

The tech giant added that the social media platform promotes a more inclusive environment, which is right up its alley in terms of inclusivity and empowerment. Advertisement hasn't been ruled out on Bluesky, but so far, the platform remains ad-free. Raising money from its investors, the social network plans to implement a subscription service to fuel a revenue stream and pay for its server running costs. Whether businesses and brands will have subscription tiers separate from regular users isn't yet known, but it will at least involve features "like higher quality video uploads or profile customizations like colors and avatar frames."

X's sinking ship

Over the past few months, X (formerly Twitter) has lost a significant number of users to alternative platforms, including Bluesky, CounterSocial, Discord, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Reddit, and Threads. The social media platform has undergone critical changes since Elon Musk acquired the company in October 2022.

After acquiring the platform and becoming the CEO, Musk merged the platform into X Corp and made some changes in the top management, including firing CEO Parag Agrawal. Consequently, X received a major overhaul, including the renaming of several features and scrapping references to bird-related terminologies.

Since then, users have taken to their social media platforms to complain about X's degraded and less-than-pleasant user experience, citing toxic rhetoric and unfavorable new terms and conditions that include the use of their data to train AI models.

Additionally, celebrities with a huge following on the platform announcing their exiting from the platform might have influenced multiple users to pull the trigger as well. Users have also transitioned to alternatives that seemingly provide a similar user experience to X.

Meta's Threads gained over 100 million users in less than a week after it launched. At the time, X (formerly Twitter) had implemented some drastic changes, capping the user's rate limit to 600 tweets per day.

Politics are important. But let's be honest, they can be exhausting. Sometimes, it's nice to be able to focus on something else in your life without having politics thrown in your face. Whether you hate politics or just want a space on the web where you can interact with others without seeing political content, "Hide Politics" is here to provide a politics-free version of X (formerly Twitter).

Hide Politics is made by X user Jason (@ArDeved). You may recognize that name as the person behind PainPoint.Pro, which uses AI to analyze YouTube comments to create product feedback. Jason is one of my favorite developers right now. Their work is incredibly impressive, but even more so because they're only 15 years old. What I like about Jason's apps is that they use AI to do a bunch of complex stuff behind the scenes then show end users concrete changes. That's the case again here with Hide Politics.

Hide Politics has a free trial, but costs if you want to use it long term. Plans start at $4.99 per month and range up to $59.99 for lifetime access. You can grab the extension now for Google Chrome. While most Chrome extensions also work on Microsoft Edge, I was not able to get Hide Politics to sign in correctly on Edge.

How to block politics on X (Twitter)

Hide Politics goes further than the block and filter settings on X. The extension scans the platform to remove any traces of politics. Specifically, Hide Politics looks at:

• Images from tweets
• Trending section in explore page
• Explore menu in home tab
• News tab in explore page
• Contents of quoted tweets
• Obviously tweet text itself

The extension's developer outlined the above and how the product works in a post on Reddit.

The concept of a politics-free X is a bit ironic given the owner of the social media platform, but I think it's something many want. In its earlier days, X (then Twitter) was a good place for engaging with members of communities, experts, and celebrities. That's all still there, but there's usually at least a sprinkling of politics anywhere you look on the platform.

My experience with Hide Politics

Hide Politics is a new extension, but it appears to work well. After installing it, I did not see much political content on X. The extension is not perfect, but it does reduce the amount of political content shown on X greatly.

I was disappointed that I could not get Hide Politics to work on Microsoft Edge. That issue seems to be connected to the extension's sign-in process, which went smoothly on Chrome when running the latest version of the extension.

Previous versions of Hide Politics had some log in issues, so make sure you're on version 1.2 or later of the extension. After that update, logging it worked fine for me on Chrome.

Why isn't this built into X?

Considering a single extension can improve the overall X experience so much, a natural question that comes to mind is "why isn't this built into X?" While I don't know the inner workings of the mind of Elon Musk, I'm confident that X falls into the same category as most social media platforms. Sites like X, Instagram, and TikTok aren't about showing you a curated stream of content you want to see, they're about presenting content you will engage with. That engagement could come in the form of likes, sharing, commenting, or creating more content. When it comes to monetization, engagement is king, and it doesn't matter if that engagement is positive or negative.

In many cases, content that draws negative engagement is better for a social media site. This is all part of a cycle that's comprehensive and rather worrying, though it is probably a bit much to tackle here. But here are just some of the factors involved in an increase in negative headlines:

• People are more likely to share negative news on social media.
• Negative headlines and news drive people to find out more information, which drives engagement.
• Because negative stories get more engagement, content creators produce more negative content.
• Social media algorithms promote negative content because that content gets engagement

So, it makes sense to promote negative content if you run a social media company, but that doesn't mean it's what people want. I have two X accounts, one for tech and one for sports. Neither of those accounts are particularly political, though some people I follow share their thoughts on politics from time to time.

But sometimes, I want to be able to follow along with the Washington Commanders community during a game against the Steelers without having to see arguments about Trump vs Harris. I thought it was too much to ask of X, but the Hide Politics extension makes it possible.

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What you need to know

• X is testing a new video conferencing tool to compete with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more.
• The tool ships with many features, including pinning main speakers and participants, notifications when someone leaves a meeting, and more. 
• It's not yet clear when the tool will ship to general availability. 

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, most organizations adopted hybrid work and the work-from-home approach to mitigate the further spread of the virus. Consequently, video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more became crucial to foster effective and efficient communication within organizations. 

Since then, most organizations adopted remote work as part of their broader plan to cut operational costs. And as it happens, X (formerly Twitter) is seemingly joining the fray. According to a report by the folks over at TechCrunch, X is testing a new video conferencing tool that could potentially rival key players in the category.

Chris Park, an employee at X, indicated that the company had started testing the video conferencing tool on the social media platform. Park touted the tool as "already a really strong alternative to Google Hangouts, Zoom, AWS Chime, and certainly... Microsoft Teams." Initial feedback from users with early access to the tool seems fairly positive. The tool is expected to ship with the features highlighted below:

• Better visuals or notification when someone leaves or joins
• Ability to pin main speakers or participants
• Less back and forth change on main panel so I don't keep seeing my awesome face (or yours)

X owner Elon Musk responded to Park's post on X with a fire emoji, a potential indication that the tool is in development awaiting broad deployment. Users seized this opportunity to cite the platform's Spaces feature:

"I wish x spaces looked this cool, I hate that x spaces doesn't have a live chat or horizontal group video. But it's one of the underrated features on x."

Park responded to the comment, indicating that these changes will be implemented on Spaces soon. According to app researcher Nian Owiji, X's new video conferencing tool will allow hosts to create a unique code for each meeting that participants can use to join. 

To this end, it remains unclear when X intends to ship the video conferencing tool to general availability. Details on whether X's Spaces feature or some of its elements are being integrated into the video conferencing tool remain slim, but it could be possible.

Earlier this month, Elon Musk and former US President Donald J. Trump had an interview on X's audio live-streaming feature, Spaces, to discuss politics and everything in between. However, the interview had a rocky start with users citing error messages, pitch silence, and blocked access to the live stream, accompanied by hold music. 

Musk quickly shifted the blame to a DDoS (distributed denial of service) cyberattack, which delayed the interview by over 40 minutes.

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What you need to know

• Elon Musk's X launched Grok 2 with reasoning and image generation capabilities.
• The image generation capability has been received with a cocktail of emotions, with the vast majority touting its uncensored nature.
• Multiple deepfake images generated using Grok have surfaced online featuring prominent politicians and public figures in compromising situations.

The emergence of generative AI has stirred controversy among interested parties, with the main issue centered on privacy and security. Chatbots like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are great at generating images based on text prompts. 

Interestingly, professionals in the built environment, including architects and interior designers, could lose their jobs to AI since it's increasingly becoming better at generating sophisticated structural designs. However, a separate report disclosed that these AI tools fail at simple tasks like creating a plain white image.

The ability to generate images using AI has raised concern among artists, especially after explicit photos of pop star Taylor Swift surfaced online. Image Creator by Designer's capabilities got a significant boost after DALL-E 3 image generation technology was integrated into the tool. However, the hype was short-lived after Microsoft lobotomized the tool's capabilities to avoid further controversy.

This caused a ripple effect across rival models, limiting their capabilities to simple and generic images—not Grok-2, though. Shortly after the model launched, users quickly moved to X and referred to it as "the most based and uncensored model of its class yet." Users also used the opportunity to praise Elon Musk for "ensuring freedom of speech for humans and machines alike with @x + @xai."

Users are seemingly enjoying the freedom Grok 2's image generation capabilities offer. There's no cap to what you can prompt the AI model to generate. X partnered with Black Forest Labs, allowing Grok 2 to leverage Flux's image-generating capabilities.

Grok features a fun mode that allows users to tap their creative juices at an optimum level. To this end, it's unclear what the general opinion is about the tool's new image-generation capabilities. The tool has seemingly been received with a cocktail of emotions, with the vast majority touting its unlimited capabilities. Some users have raised concerns about the tool spreading misinformation, ultimately causing harm. 

Multiple deepfake images of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are already making rounds across social media. And while it's easy to identify them as AI-generated images, they pose a significant threat to the forthcoming elections, placing the involved parties in compromising situations like the 9/11 attacks. 

More problems abound for X

Grok is increasingly becoming more like Microsoft and OpenAI's flagship AI-powered chatbots, though it's seemingly the new kid on the block. Billionaire and X owner Musk has laid out ambitious plans for the chatbot and says It will be "the most powerful AI by every metric by December." Musk highlighted that the chatbot is being trained by the world's most powerful AI cluster.

The chatbot has already stumbled onto some critical setbacks. First, it was recently spotted spreading misinformation about the forthcoming US Presidential election, which raised concern among regulators. 

X has also quietly rolled out a new setting that grants the chatbot access to a user's data by default for training. When regulators raised the issue to X, the company reportedly shoulder-shrugged the complaints. X has made it difficult to disable the feature, as it's limited to the web app. 

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could fine X up to 4% of its global annual turnover if the platform can't establish a legal basis for using users' data to train its chatbot without their consent.

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What you need to know 

• Nine complaints have been filed against X by data protection authorities for using users 'data to train Grok without their consent.
• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could fine X up to 4% of its global annual turnover if the platform can't establish a legal basis for using users' data to train its chatbot without their consent.
• It's worth noting X suspended the processing of users' data for training Grok.

AI-powered models heavily rely on internet sources for their training. Publishers and websites have been in constant legal battles with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI over copyright infringement issues. While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argues copyright law doesn't prohibit using copyrighted content to train AI models, he admits that it's impossible to develop and create tools like ChatGPT without access.

X's (formerly Twitter) Grok AI chatbot isn't unique either. A few weeks ago, an avid X user discovered a setting change enabled by default that rolled out as part of a new update. It allows the platform to train its dedicated chatbot using users' data "quietly." However, you can turn off the feature by navigating through X's settings (though you can only do it via the web app).

The move was received with criticism and backlash, rolling back to the privacy and security issues impacting the advancement of AI technology. The move caught the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) by surprise. For context, the DPC ensures X complies with the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Following the critical data issue, nine complaints have been filed against X by data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain (via TechCrunch). The complaints also indicate that X doesn't have a basis for using data belonging to over 60 million EU users to train its chatbot without consent. 

In the interim, the DPC has already moved to the Irish High Court to seek legal action against X for using user data to train its AI model without consent. The DPC seeks an injunction to bar X from using Europeans' posts to train AI without authorization.

According to the chairman of privacy rights nonprofit noyb, Max Schrems:

"We have seen countless instances of inefficient and partial enforcement by the DPC in the past years. We want to ensure that Twitter fully complies with EU law, which — at a bare minimum — requires to ask users for consent in this case."

However, noyb deems the DPC's actions as insufficient. The nonprofit organization claims that it would be impossible for X users to get the company to delete the information or data used to train Grok. To this end, X is inclined toward "legitimate interest" in AI-related processing as its defense strategy.

Depending on the outcome of the ruling against the complaints filed against X, the GDPR can fine the social media platform up to 4% of its global annual turnover. The institution's mandate is to ensure that the use of personal data has a valid legal basis. It's worth noting X suspended the processing of users' data for training Grok.

Despite having access to vast data, Grok was recently spotted spreading misinformation about the forthcoming US presidential election. X reportedly shoulder-shrugged the critical issue after it was flagged by five state secretaries and had already reached millions across social media platforms.

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The social network platform X (formerly known as Twitter) recently announced that it started using your posts and activities to train Grok, the xAI Large Language Model (LLM), a company founded by Elon Musk. The Grok chatbot is usually available from the main menu on the web or through the mobile app.

Although the novel action would have been prompting you if you wanted to opt into the program to train Grok, the social media platform opted everyone in automatically, something that most companies do nowadays. 

If you prefer to keep your posts, interactions, inputs, and results out of the Grok AI, X buried an option to disable the feature and stop sharing data within the platform's settings. You can do this from the web version of X on Windows 11, 10, macOS, or any other platform, or you can change the settings in the X app.

In this how-to guide, I will explain the easy ways to opt out of the data-sharing program to prevent X from using your data to train Grok.

Disable X's Grok from using your data for AI training

On X, you have two ways to opt out of the data-sharing program, including using the web or the mobile app.

From the web

To prevent Grok from using the data you post on X for AI training purposes, use these steps:

1. Open your X account on the web.
2. Sign in with your credentials (if applicable).
3. Click on from the pane.
4. Choose the "Settings and privacy" option.

1. Click on Privacy and safety.
2. Click the Grok setting under the "Data sharing and personalization" section.

1. Clear the "Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning" option.

1. (Optional) Click the "Delete conversation history" option to delete the data from conversations between you and Grok.

Once you complete the steps, the company formerly known as Twitter will stop using your posts and activities to train its Grok AI language model.

From the mobile app

To opt out of Grok training with your data, use these steps:

1. Open the X app.
2. Click the profile menu.
3. Click on "Settings & Support" and choose the "Settings and privacy" option.
4. Click on Privacy and Safety.
5. Click the Grok setting.
6. Turn off the "Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning" toggle switch.

1. (Optional) Click the "Delete conversation history" option to delete the data from conversations between you and Grok.

After you complete the steps, X should stop using your data for AI training purposes.

Finally, I wanted to point out that these instructions are specific for the X mobile app on Android, but you can also refer to this guide to change the settings on iPhone devices.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

What you need to know

• Elon Musk recently announced "the world's most powerful training cluster" that will be used to transform Grok into "the most powerful AI by every metric by December this year."
• Interestingly, X recently shipped a new Data Sharing experience that's enabled by default and uses your data to train Grok.
• The feature is hidden in the platform's privacy settings and can only be disabled on the web app.

Earlier this week, Billionaire Elon Musk took to his X (formerly Twitter) platform to announce that his xAI company had started training its Grok LLM using "the most powerful AI training cluster in the world." Musk indicated the AI model would be "the world's most powerful AI by every metric by December this year."

But as it now seems, Grok AI will need a little bit more than "the most powerful cluster in the world" for its training. According to a spot by @EasyBakedOven on X, "Twitter just activated a setting by default for everyone that gives them the right to use your data to train grok." But perhaps more strangely, the social media platform quietly rolled out the feature enabled by default and uses your data to train Grok. 

This isn't entirely a surprise. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously admitted it's virtually impossible to develop AI tools like ChatGPT without copyrighted content amid copyright infringement lawsuits piling up against the ChatGPT maker and Microsoft. "Legally, copyright law does not forbid training," OpenAI added.

The X sleuth further indicated that it's impossible to disable the feature via the mobile app. However, it's possible to disable the feature via the web app, though it's hidden.

How to disable the data sharing feature on X

It's evident X wants to use your data to make Grok more efficient and effective, which could be a possible explanation why the feature shipped under the wraps and is enabled by default. What's more, X isn't making it easy for the average user to disable the feature.

If you don't want the feature to use your data to train Grok, you'll need to head to Settings on the web app. Next, click on the Privacy and safety option then select Grok. You'll be directed to the Data Sharing page, where you'll notice the Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning option is enabled by default. Finally, simply click on the checkmark to disable the feature. 

The following explanation is offered under the unsolicited Data Sharing feature:

"To continuously improve your experience, we may utilize your X posts as well as your user interactions, inputs and results with Grok for training and fine-tuning purposes. This also means that your interactions, inputs, and results may also be shared with our service provider xAI for these purposes."

In a separate report, a comprehensive study published in Nature seems to suggest that AI "inbreeding" fears may indeed be founded. The researchers have highlighted concerns about how AI models may be impacted by their own regurgitated data. In the interim, another report suggested that AI might be a fad and no one is actually using AI tools. The general opinion around chatbots is that they might have already hit their peak, and they'll only get dumber as regulators continue to rain down on their parade.

What you need to know

• As part of a new test, users in New Zealand and the Philippines will be required to pay $1 per year to post on X.  
• New users who opt-out will only be able to take “read-only” actions.
• X says this change is an effort to fight bots on their platform.
• The news is getting a mixed reception.

Social network X, formerly known as Twitter, has undergone significant changes in its platform structure and user policies. One of the most notable changes is introducing a new policy requiring users to pay a nominal fee of $1 per year to post on the network. This shift marks a departure from the traditional ad-supported model, aiming to create a more curated and premium experience for its users. The change has sparked widespread discussion about the future of social media platforms and their monetization strategies.

What has X done this time? 

In a surprising announcement, X released a post on their support site titled "Not A Bot" with information about a new test going into effect shortly for new accounts in New Zealand and the Philippines. This $1 per year fee is designed to reduce the number of bots signing up to the website, as an actual bank account will need to be used to create the account. It's important to note that this is $1 per year, and the price will vary from country to country. 

For example:

New Zealand: NZD 1.43 per year

Philippines: ₱42.51 per year

Depending on how strong the USD is compared to a country's currency, this fee could become a substantial barrier to entry for some future prospective X users, especially in countries that are still heavily cash-based and don't have widespread access to banks. 

Twitter (X) explains more about the new rules for this test.

Based on this explanation, new accounts will still be able to read and access posts from their favorite X accounts, but they won't be able to interact or post their own content. 

What does this mean for you?

Unless you live in New Zealand or the Phillippines, you will mostly be unaffected, but as we know with most of these "tests," they will soon be rolled out on a broader scale if proven effective with low impact to X's bottom line. 

There have been sweeping changes in Twitter (now X) since Elon Musk purchased it last year, such as Elon Musk changing Twitter's logo or rebranding the entire company. Also, many free features and options have been removed and placed behind an $8 monthly paywall. 

What are people's thoughts on the change?

Looking through replies on @Xdaily's post, there seem to be mixed reactions. Some are happy and agree that this might help curb the creation of new bot accounts, especially once it's pushed to a global scale. In contrast, others see it as a cash grab and a way to gather user's personal information that would be included in a monetary transaction as required in this new test. 

What do you think about this change? Do you think X should make their actual users pay to fight against bots? Let us know in the comments. 

What you need to know

• Elon Musk's X is looking to take on Microsoft owned LinkedIn.
• He branded LinkedIn as "cringe" and wants to make a competitor that is "cool".
• This comes after his purchase of recruitment start-up Laskie earlier this year.

Elon Musk thinks LinkedIn is "cringe". Now we can find anything to be cringe depending on our particular tastes and many would think the same of Musk, but his drive to make X, formerly known as Twitter, into the everything app means it could soon be taking on the Microsoft owned platform at its own game. All in the quest to make hiring "cool" again. 

Unfortunately for X/Twitter, right now the dramas surrounding the platform and the controversies from Musk himself means a lot of people have been looking around at other platforms. One of the beneficiaries of this appears to be LinkedIn. According to Nature, many academics are worried about diversity, equity and inclusion on the platform. LinkedIn has become the new home for some of these academics as they try and keep a sense of community.

X Hiring recently launched to take on LinkedIn and is currently in beta. It is only available to organizations paying $1,000 a month for the Gold Tick verification, which obviously excludes many businesses from accessing this. This allows them to display a section on their profile pages that states that they're hiring. It's pretty basic right now it seems, but this is a beta, and it's going to take time for features to be added, as with anything else.

This move from Elon Musk to make X a LinkedIn competitor is obviously in its infancy, but he seems serious about making X the everything app. There's already a big push on video content and features being rolled out to compete with YouTube and maybe streaming platforms like Twitch. However, LinkedIn is a very different beast, and it will be a very difficult nut to crack, so let's see how it unfolds. Organisations can apply for the beta here.

What you need to know

• Twitter has been rebranded to X (The Everything App).
• You might receive a security prompt from Microsoft Edge asking you to uninstall the app.
• Edge ships with a security feature dubbed Progressive Web App Icon Change designed to notify the user whenever an app name or icon is changed.
• X ran into some issues while rebranding on iOS, but they appear to have been resolved.

Last week, Elon Musk announced Twitter's rebrand to X. The move cause mixed feelings and emotions, with multiple users highlighting their preference for the old design over the new one. Still, the rebrand did take place, and the little blue bird we've all come to know and love is now in thin air.

And while the changes are still rolling out to users, the transition to X is proving difficult. As spotted by BleepingComputer, Microsoft Edge views Twitter X as a potential security threat after the rebrand and is currently displaying security warnings. 

The alert is prompted by a security feature dubbed Progressive Web App Icon change, which is in place to notify users whenever the icon or name of an application is changed, as is the case with Twitter's rebrand.

Florian, a "Windows user and fan since the 90s" and also a Windows Insider MVP in  2021, flagged the issue on X and shared a screenshot with the following prompt from Microsoft Edge: If this web app is trying to trick you into thinking it's a different app, uninstall it.

We'll have to wait to see if Musk and the team at X work with Microsoft to stop this prompt from appearing.

Windows Central take

Likewise, the rebrand transition hasn't been seamless for iOS users. This is because of Apple's strict App Store rules. There are guidelines regarding naming apps, and X doesn't meet the cut, as highlighted by our sister site, iMore. One-character names aren't allowed on Apple's App Store, as explained by Nick Sheriff on X. 

Since the rebrand was announced, I've noticed subtle changes on the platform, but the app logo and name remained the same until yesterday when a new update popped up for myself and others. This made the transition imminent.

Perhaps, this could mean that the naming issue has been resolved, as the X rebrand is now consistent across my home page and App Store, and the bird logo is also gone! Musk also hinted that the rebrand would transform it into "The Everything App." There's little to base this on at the moment but there's a likelihood that more changes are coming for X.

The discussion around Twitter staying down or otherwise being replaced feels like it'll never end, and honestly, and probably never will. It's been such a significant part of the modern-day Internet that 'Tweeting' has become more of a commonplace verb than simply 'posting,' and the recent brand change is unlikely to change that.

Twitter has changed its name to 'X,' part of a recent slew of unusual adjustments happening since SpaceX founder Elon Musk acquired the platform for $44 billion earlier this year. It's not the first time users have felt like the writing is on the wall for Twitter, with many flocking to recently-opened competitors like Meta's Threads.

However, dropping the iconic name is more drastic than anything that came before, and some jilted Tweeters are looking for ways to not only abandon their accounts but thoroughly purge the contents from the public eye. Here's how to delete your Twitter account and everything you ever Tweeted.

How to deactivate your Twitter (X) account

Unfortunately, no method is available to delete your Twitter account immediately. Instead, you have to deactivate it and wait at least 30 days. Afterward, the company implies that your data will be deleted and no longer retrievable, though some cached versions of your Tweets may still appear on search results in various search engines and content feeds.

1. Visit Twitter in desktop mode using a PC, laptop, or compatible device.
2. Click the three-dotted 'More' menu on the left-side navigation bar.
3. Check under 'Settings and Support' and click 'Settings and privacy.'

Important: At this stage, you'll be prompted with the option to request your Twitter data for download, which cannot be completed for deactivated accounts. If you plan to donate your username to another user or use the same email account with another handle, change them before deactivating it.

4. On the 'Your account' tab, click 'Deactivate your account' at the bottom.
5. Complete your request by entering your password and starting deactivation.

How to mass delete all of your Tweets

Although it's restricted to deleting only your most recent 3,200 Tweets in its standard free mode, TweetDelete can mass delete your posts, likes, and media immediately by harnessing the Twitter API.

1. Visit TweetDelete in desktop mode using a PC, laptop, or compatible device.
2. Click 'Sign in with Twitter' and authorize TweetDeleteLLC access.
3. Back on the TweetDelete home page, click 'Delete Tweets.'
4. Check that the Twitter account matches your '@' username.
5. Use the 'Age of Tweets to delete' drop-down menu to select your date range.
6. Select 'Once only' under the 'Run this task' menu.

Important: Deleting your Tweets using this method is permanent, and the developers explain in their FAQ that, for privacy reasons, TweetDelete does not store a record of anything deleted. You will not be able to recover any Tweets deleted using this tool.

7. Read the TweetDelete terms, and check the box to agree.
8. Click 'Delete my Tweets!' to complete the process.

If you would rather delete your Twitter likes, use the appropriate tab in the topmost navigation menu and follow the same steps with similar restrictions. Alternatively, you can purchase access to TweetDelete Premium for a one-time payment of $14.99 and unlock the ability to delete an unlimited amount of Tweets or enable auto-delete tasks.

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What you need to know

•  Twitter's logo has been rebranded.
• The new X logo has already been applied to the web app.
• Multiple users have indicated that the new logo is reminiscent of other X logos like the X Windows logo, a replica of the x glyph from Special Alphabets 4, and more.
• Elon intends to phase out the Twitter brand gradually.

The bird app has undergone a ton of changes in the recent past, more so after Elon Musk's $44 billion takeover late last year. Most of these changes have received a lot of backlash from users, causing them to seek alternatives like Mastodon and even Meta's Twitter-like platform, Threads. 

Elon's latest change on Twitter features a new logo (X) replacing the blue bird symbol. He recently announced that x.com would direct users to twitter.com.

The change has been received with a spur of mixed feelings. Unsurprisingly, most users aren't for the rebrand, citing their preference for the old blue bird logo over the new X logo. Multiple users have indicated that the rebrand is reminiscent of other X logos.

The Verge's Tom Warren pointed out that the new Twitter logo is a replica of the x glyph from Special Alphabets 4 and not the X Windows logo as presumed by most users.

Elon hasn't outrightly indicated what drew inspiration for the new logo, though there's a lot of speculation looming around in the air. Notably, he has indicated that he likes the letter X. "If X is closest in style to anything, it should, of course, be Art Deco," Elon stated before making the announcement. 

Some users have indicated that the new logo "looks like a close button when in context." Others have indicated that the new logo closely resembles the Lidl version of Lynx Africa, which is a popular deodorant brand that features the letter X in its logo.

Windows Central's take

Twitter has been on a downward spiral since Musk's takeover, with more users transitioning to other social media platforms like Mastodon. 

Recently, Elon moved to limit the number of Tweets a user could see daily, which sparked a lot of concern and infuriated many users. Meta consequently seized this opportunity and debuted their Twitter-like alternative, Threads, which experienced immense success during its launch, with over 50 million new signups just over a day after its debut. As such, it'll be interesting to see this change's impact on Threads. Will more users transition to the platform? Only time will tell.

A full rebrand seems imminent, as the change has already been implemented on the web app and will likely roll out to other platforms soon. "There’s absolutely no limit to this transformation," stated Linda Yaccarino, Twitter's new CEO. 

Aside from the logo rebrand, Twitter's UI remains pretty much the same, at least for now. It'll be interesting the next steps Elon takes regarding the rebrand and what the future holds for "Twitter." However, we'll likely see more changes in the foreseeable future, especially after Elon's Tweet indicating, "And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds."

"For years, fans and critics alike have pushed Twitter to dream bigger, to innovate faster, and to fulfill our great potential," says Linda Yaccarino, Twitter CEO. "X will do that and more. We’ve already started to see X take shape over the past 8 months through our rapid feature launches, but we’re just getting started."

What you need to know

• Threads will bring numerous feature updates in the near future.
• Users have been complaining that basic features are missing.
• The app has surpassed over 50 million accounts in just over a day after release.

Threads by Instagram is off to a flying start with over 50 million new signups since the app launched just over a day ago and we now know that the company has many new features in the pipeline to address early user complaints. This is, of course, because the app was launched earlier than originally planned to take advantage of peoples grievances with Twitter, with the "rate limiting" saga being the most recent.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri has been very active on Threads and has spoken about the various updates they will be bringing to the app as soon as possible. One of the main complaints from users has been that they are seeing too many posts from people they don't follow and have no interest in seeing. Adam had this to say about what they are going to do to remedy this, among other things.

All of the features missing from Threads right now can be found on Twitter and a lot of the complaints are likely due to people not getting what they're used to on that platform. In addition to bringing an option to only see posts from those you are following, this is what you can expect to see in the near future:

• A more comprehensive search function.
• Hashtags.
• Direct messages.
• See posts in chronological order.
• Fediverse support.

Being able to see posts chronologically is important for many. Adam commented that this is available in both Instagram and Facebook, although it's likely you've never seen this option as it is hidden away. This is because like most social media companies they want to be able to control what you see as much as they can.

The fifty million signups is very impressive in such a small period of time, but as of right now there are no signups coming from those in the EU, as they aren't allowing the app to be distributed due to privacy concerns. This could well be linked to the fact that if you want to delete your Threads account you can only do this by deleting your entire Instagram account. Adam Mosseri also commented on people asking him questions about this very subject.  

We're not sure what specific concerns the EU has here but I think this separation from Instagram would go a long way to making them happier. There's no time frame on when these updates will arrive but no doubt they will want to get them out as soon as possible to capitalise on their fantastic start. Windows Central is on Threads already and many here are mixing it into our daily routine alongside Twitter, so if you're on Threads be sure to follow Windows Central and the team to stay up to date on what's happening over there and all of the usual news.

Even though Threads lacks an app on Windows, you can access the service by installing the Android version of the app onto your PC.

What you need to know

• Alex Spiro, the personal lawyer of Elon Musk, sent Microsoft a letter on behalf of Twitter claiming that Microsoft has violated Twitter's developer agreement.
• Spiro's letter states that Microsoft violated "multiple provisions" of the developer agreement for "an extended period of time."
• The letter requests a "compliance audit" of how eight Microsoft apps have used Twitter data.
• Musk has previously accused Microsoft of using Twitter data illegally.

The relationship between Microsoft and Twitter continues to sour. Following Twitter's demand to be paid for API access that was previously available free of charge, Microsoft decided to drop Twitter integration from several services. For example, users can no longer share game clips directly to Twitter. That ongoing saga between the tech giants now has another chapter involving a letter from Elon Musk's personal lawyer.

Alex Spiro, a personal lawyer of Musk sent a letter to Microsoft on behalf of Twitter. The letter claims that Microsoft has violated "multiple provisions" of Twitter's developer agreement "for an extended period of time." The letter was first reported on by The New York Times.

The letter makes several accusations, including claiming that Microsoft used Twitter's APIs for "unauthorized uses and purposes." Spiro also took a shot at Microsoft, stating that "Up until last month, when it declined to pay even a discounted rate for continued access to Twitter’s APIs and content, Microsoft operated eight separate Twitter API apps, listed below, which appear to provide data and functionality for at least five separate Microsoft products and services, including Xbox One, Bing Pages, Azure, Power Platform, and Ads" (emphasis added).

A total of eight Microsoft apps integrated with Twitter in some shape or form. Spiro claims that Microsoft apps exceeded the rate limit of the Twitter API. He added an accusation that Microsoft failed to disclose and obtain approval for the "intended use case for each Microsoft app."

Disclosure is a theme throughout the letter, which states that Microsoft did not inform Twitter of using APIs to power apps with automation capabilities.

Spiro concluded with a request for a compliance audit by Microsoft for the eight Microsoft apps in question.

Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw said the following to The Verge yesterday:

"Today we heard from a law firm representing Twitter with some questions about our previous use of the free Twitter API. We will review these questions and respond appropriately. We look forward to continuing our long term partnership with the company."

Microsoft specified to the New York Times that it does not pay Twitter for data.

Twitter responded to The Verge's press email the same way it responds to all press emails, with a poop emoji.

Musk issued a vague threat against Microsoft last month after claiming Microsoft "trained illegally using Twitter data." The Twitter CEO then added "lawsuit time."

In a follow-up Tweet, Musk said "I’m open to ideas, but ripping off the Twitter database, demonetizing it (removing ads) and then selling our data to others isn’t a winning solution."

It's unclear if the most recent letter is connected to Musk's tweet about training with Twitter data. The Twitter CEO has a mixed history when it comes to public allegations and accusations on the social media platform he now runs.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is removing Twitter as an option from its Digital Marketing Center’s social media management tool.
• The change starts on April 25th.
• Twitter is demanding an initial $42K monthly for its new paid Twitter API subscription plan, which scales per use. 
• Microsoft Advertising keeps Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn content management features for advertisers.

Twitter is about to lose a valuable partner as Microsoft announced it is dropping the maligned social network from its Digital Marketing Center’s (DMC) social media management tool starting on April 25th.

Microsoft’s DMC is a tool small and medium business owners use to manage ad campaigns on various social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. The tool uses artificial intelligence to optimize and automate digital marketing campaigns with a centralized dashboard letting advertisers engage with customers directly through messaging and DMs.

The change coincided with the decision by Twitter to start charging an eye-watering $42,000-a-month starting enterprise subscription to Twitter’s new API. Unfortunately, such a decision also affects many third-party Twitter app developers who can no longer afford to maintain their apps, many of which add more customizations and features than the official Twitter app.

As reported by Mashable, who broke the story:

“While Microsoft’s social media service was provided for free to advertisers, it was prominently featured in Microsoft Advertising’s Digital Marketing Center dashboard. It worked alongside the platform’s social and search paid advertising tools, which helped businesses run and manage their paid ad campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram, and Microsoft’s search advertising … Microsoft made more than $12 billion in digital advertising revenue last year from ads that would be created, managed, and run through its Advertising platform.”

The announcement was posted on Microsoft’s support page for its services.

Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, chimed in on the news accusing Microsoft of “training illegally,” presumably its Bing Chat and Bing Search features, and threatening a lawsuit against the company.

In response to some mild questioning of Twitter’s long-term plan regarding access to its feed, Musk responded, “I’m open to ideas, but ripping off the Twitter database, demonetizing it (removing ads) and then selling our data to others isn’t a winning solution.”

Of course, Musk says many things on Twitter that, more often than not, never come true. Filing lawsuits in the United States is easy, but proving and winning the case is much more challenging. It remains to be seen if Musk is making more idle threats or if a lawsuit against Microsoft will happen.

In the meantime, Microsoft is not the only company to drop plans for access to Twitter’s new API. Intercom and the National Weather Service (NWS) are also not going along with the plans. As the latter notes, it may no longer be reliable for emergency alert tweets due to it not paying Twitter over half a million dollars a year for something previously free.

The move by Microsoft also comes on the heels of Musk trying to win back advertisers for Twitter, who have removed or suspended campaigns due to the CEO’s erratic behavior. Twitter reportedly lost over half of its major advertisers since Musk took over.

Twitter is undergoing a lot of changes these days, with many of the shifts not going over well with users. For instance, Twitter Blue ($84 a year) will be required to vote in polls, and only those with Twitter Blue will populate the ‘For You’ curated feed. Another change is that Twitter Blue users will get higher visibility than non-Blue users making Twitter a pay-to-play service.

But what if I told you there is an easy and free (for Android) way to only show your chronological timeline of people you follow and undo all the recent UI changes, including metrics?

I’ve written about the solution before, and it’s called Control Panel for Twitter. It’s a free browser extension available on GitHub. When combined with the ability to create a progressive web app (PWA) in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, you can make a custom Twitter app that is streamlined, simple, and undoes all the recent Musk-era changes.

The same process can be done on Android (and, to a lesser extent, on iOS), and it’ll take you less than five minutes.

Bonus? By following this method, the scroll performance of Twitter also significantly improves on Android, which is a big deal for those with high-refresh displays.

Part 1: Install Control Panel for Twitter on Android

By following these steps, you’ll create a faster, smoother, and more streamlined custom Twitter app that’s so good you’ll likely uninstall the official Twitter one.

The trick is to use Firefox Beta, which allows custom browser extensions, but you have to “unlock” the feature via Advanced Settings.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download Firefox Beta from the Android Play Store.

2. Open Firefox Beta.

3. Go to Settings (three dots, lower corner) → About Firefox Beta (very bottom) → Tap on the Firefox logo 5 times.

4. Go back to (Firefox) Settings, and under Advanced, and you should now see Custom Add-on Collection.

5. Enter the following details after you tap Custom Add-on Collection:

- 13844640

- Android-Collection

6. When completed, go back to Settings → Advanced and now tap Add-ons, and you should see Control Panel for Twitter as an option.

Once installed, you can tap under Settings → Add-ons → Control Panel for Twitter to access the extension’s settings. I won’t go over ALL the things this extension can do, but here are some screenshots for you to get an idea:

As you can see, there are many choices and the ability to hide all sorts of UI elements, replace the Twitter Blue icon, hide verified accounts, hide re-Tweets, clean up Search, and more. The default settings already undo many of Twitter’s weird recent choices, so you may not need to tinker much.

Part 2: Make a Twitter app using Firefox Beta

You can now use the Control Panel for Twitter extension in Firefox beta, logging into your Twitter account and reaping all the benefits.

But many will want a standalone app instead of just using the web browser. That’s where the magic of progressive web apps (PWA) comes into the picture. Firefox Beta lets you turn any website into a web app, and that’s what we’ll do with Twitter.

1. Go to twitter.com in Firefox Beta.

2. Open (Firefox) Settings (three dots, lower corner).

3. Scroll down until you see Install.

4. Touch and hold to manually place it on your home screen or choose to add automatically.

You should now have the Twitter icon with a little Firefox logo on your Android home screen. Tapping it opens the Twitter PWA in full-screen mode, so there is no visible container or browser elements – it’s just the app.

For Samsung users with the camera cutout and who use Twitter in dark or dim mode, you may have a white bar across the top. Don’t worry. You can fix this:

1. Go to Settings in Samsung → Display → Camera cutout.

2. Scroll down to find Firefox Beta in the app list.

3. Tap and select Hide camera cutout.

4. Now close and relaunch the Twitter PWA.

And that should be it. You now have a customized Twitter app that is faster, smoother and has less Twitter nonsense in it, all for free.

Control Panel for Twitter: Apple iOS and Safari

Being Apple, of course, you have fewer options than on Android. The good news is that the Control Panel for Twitter extension is available on iOS (and iPad and Mac), but it costs $5.99 in the Apple App Store. Why? Because you bought an Apple product, everything costs more money there, even free GitHub extensions.

The extension only works in Apple Safari, so you don’t need to do much. Just buy the app in the Apple App Store. Once installed, go to iOS’s settings, and click Safari. Under Safari’s General section, you should see an Extensions menu item. Click it and turn on Control Panel for Twitter. You can also access the extension’s settings here for later customization.

I had to restart the phone and clear out the Safari cache before it started to work on twitter.com, but it does work. So that’s the good news.

The bad news is that while Safari can create PWAs, including for Twitter (which runs well), as far as I know, Safari’s extensions don’t run in those PWAs, unlike Firefox and other browsers. So that means to use your custom BS-free Twitter you’ll need only to use it in the Safari web browser and not a web app.

Lame.

Hopefully, Apple will allow PWAs to run browser extensions in the future.

Anyway, that’s my quick guide on how to make Twitter better on Android (and iOS, kind of). As mentioned at the beginning of this article, you can also do this for the desktop with a standalone custom Twitter app, which I use all the time.

If you find this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it!

What you need to know

• Elon Musk of Tesla fame purchased Twitter last year for $44 billion dollars. 
• Since the acquisition, Musk has made rapid changes to the platform in a bid to find profitability. 
• With a deeper emphasis on algorithms and ad-tracking, Musk's Twitter has culled third-party app access, delivering a blow to classic Windows apps like Tweetium. 

It's probably unsurprising, but irritating if you're still actively using one of the great third-party Twitter apps out there. 

This past week, it seems Twitter has officially and without warning shut down third-party access to its APIs. This means that great third-party Twitter apps like Tweetium are now effectively dead, meaning that the only way to access Twitter is via the web or official apps. As of writing, some third-party wrappers for the web version of Twitter and Tweetdeck are still functional, such as the excellent Tweeten, but it remains to be seen how long these will last as well. 

Long-term Windows PC and Windows Phone users will remember how indie developers stepped up to support the platform with popular third-party solutions in a world where first parties wouldn't. Tweetium was a personal favorite of mine, built for UWP, it worked great across both Surface devices and Nokia Lumia Windows phones while the first-party app was often a crashtacular mess. 

Tweetium launched back in the Windows 8 days, and has remained updated all the way through to Windows 11. Other great third-party Windows Twitter apps included Tweet It! Fenice, and the gorgeous Aeries. 

Twitter has laid off thousands of workers in the past year. Elon Musk's acquisition of the firm has seen rapid changes hit the service, as Musk tries to find profitability for the niche, but influential social media platform. 

The death of third-party Twitter apps essentially locks Twitter users into the ad-driven service across mobile apps and the web, which should help Twitter claw back some profitability. 

Many of the third-party services offered by independent devs reduced or in some cases completely removed Twitter ad delivery mechanics, which no doubt hit profitability. 

Twitter in previous years offered API access for free, but gradually ramped up the cost of accessing API calls, which many developers passed on to users in the form of subscriptions. Musk would doubtless prefer to have Twitter users subscribe to Twitter Blue to avoid ads instead. Twitter Blue costs around $10 per month in exchange for a reduction in ads, as well as algorithmic priority for your tweets in the service's TikTok-like "For You" page. 

Back in 2017, I joined mastodon.cloud, one of the first “instances” (aka servers) for Mastodon. The concept seemed convoluted: A decentralized social network (whatever that means), although it was just another thing to sign up for at the time. So, like many tech geeks, I parked a username just in case Mastodon ever took off, which seemed quite unlikely.

Fast forward to 2022, and I don’t need to rehash the drama of Twitter after Elon Musk has taken over. I’m not much into fake controversy and daily outrage. I mostly laughed at the madness of seemingly random and contradictory new policies like banning the sharing of other social networks, only to be reversed less than 24 hours later (but not before banning some users, of course). There’s also the seemingly retaliatory suspension of journalists to settle petty personal scores or whatever Twitter Blue is these days.

And when Twitter became hilariously mismanaged, it became less valuable and fun, at least for me. Many of the personal accounts I followed started posting less (or not at all). My timeline became automated brand postings – one endless news RSS feed. Those who were tweeting were talking about Elon Musk – a topic I’m so burnt out on, like many others. And the few times I tweeted, the interactions and sharing reflected what felt like a mass rejection of whatever Twitter was morphing into with less interaction.

I’ve always noted that you need two significant events for a paradigm shift. For one, the existing paradigm, in this case, Twitter, must undergo a crisis. Number two, you need a viable alternative that does something better than the previous system. This shift has happened with Myspace vs. Facebook, Netscape vs. Internet Explorer, FTP/Gopher/Newsgroups vs. WWW, IRC vs. SMS/messaging apps, etc.

Twitter is in crisis. Even Musk knows this, recently remarking that Twitter is like “a plane that’s headed towards the ground at high speed, with the engines on fire, and the controls don’t work.” Advertisers feel the same, with the Wall Street Journal noting that 70%+ of Twitter’s top 100 ad spenders weren’t spending on the platform due to a lack of faith and concerns over management. 

With 89% of Twitter’s revenue coming from ads, that’s a severe problem.

And while many of Musk’s weirdo hardcore fans lament “the legacy blue checks” on the platform, most people go to Twitter to hear what those verified “celebrities” are saying. That was the beauty of Twitter: You could tweet at your favorite celebrity or dunk on a politician. Unfortunately, without the “elites,” Twitter loses its appeal, which seems to be happening.

And here is where Mastodon, 5 years later, comes back into the picture. It wasn’t long before many people quitting Twitter migrated to Mastodon. Was this a temporary hissy fit by the internet or a genuine movement?

Mastodon: Far from perfect, but also fun

Mastodon is not a direct replacement for Twitter, but it may offer something better: A return to the golden days of the internet where no one owned the thing.

But Mastodon also has some severe onboarding issues. The system is confusing, such as which server you should sign up for, how there is no retweet ability, and the discovery of new topics, especially people, is a challenge (which is why I made a list of tech people and sites to follow). 

The Android apps and PWA are great, but even logging in can be confusing for the first time.

There is also the worry that Mastodon will become another echo chamber. That’s somewhat true. Right now, it’s journalists, scientists, some artists, creators, and your cutting-edge tech nerds. Trying to get your normie friends on Mastodon is like teaching grandpa how to use a smartphone – it won’t be easy!

And that’s what I like about it.

Is that elitist? Yes, to a certain extent. But I remember in 1994 when I was using the “information superhighway,” as some were calling it to FTP to servers, use Newsgroups to discuss topics, chat on IRC, use electronic mail to talk to people remotely, or Gopher to find things. We formed small, close groups, even if you were on the “mainstream” America Online (or Prodigy before it).

These small networks drove the internet until the World Wide Web and browsers emerged. And those birthed message boards and blogging, which has morphed into publishing and comments.

All of that was elitist back in the 1990s. 

Most people didn’t own a PC or even one with a modem. So getting onto the internet was not trivial (AOL did help). And explaining the internet to people was problematic because there were so many new terms and metaphors. If you were on the ‘net in 1995, you were part of a particular club of people in the know.

Mastodon, and the larger Fediverse, is the first real alternative to the last 20 years of the standard internet I’ve come across. Being decentralized, no one controls or owns it, as anyone can set up a Mastodon instance. 

No algorithms or monolith corporations are mining your data. There are no ads. There is no weird, lonely guy in charge changing the rules arbitrarily or running dumb polls to set policy.

Right now, Mastodon is just people talking and not arguing. They are not dunking on each other for internet fame. There are no daily villains or endless faux outrage over the most trivial things. Bots, at least the wrong kind, are not a problem. No one is creating fake accounts or trying to impersonate someone else.

Yeah, it’s like the internet in the 1990s, and I love it.

Is it for everyone? Will it be the town square of the world? No, and no, and I don’t care. 

I’m not sure if it will last or if Mastodon will morph into Twitter 3.0 with all the baggage that comes with popular, centralized, corporatized social networks. However, the structure of the networks suggests it won’t.

Regardless, I’m enjoying the change of scenery and, more significantly, the potential for us all to create something new and better. I hope it grows, and I’m OK if Musk’s Twitter crashes and burns. Good riddance! Something better can come from those ashes — schöpferische Zerstörung ("creative destruction"). That’s how the market works.

I say, embrace the chaos and join the fun, even if it doesn't last.

Looking to get started on Mastodon? Here's a list of tech people and sites to follow to get your feed started.

The decentralized Mastodon (found on the “Fediverse”) is rapidly growing in popularity, with some estimates putting it with around 9 million registered users by the end of the year. That’s a sharp increase from just over a million a few months ago.

The problem with Mastodon is discovery: Finding people and topics you want to follow. Unlike Twitter, Mastodon has no algorithms and doesn’t try to recommend anything to you. Your feed is just that: A real-time, chronological list of postings from people you follow and nothing more. And while you can search for people, it only works for people on your Mastodon “instance,” that is, the server you joined (you can switch servers later, however, and keep all your followers).

There are a few ways to get around this, including the brute-force way below, where we have a running list of people and sites as recommended follows if you’re into all things technology. Unfortunately, if they’re not on your Mastodon instance, you can still follow them, but it’s tricky if you’re on the web (you have to copy, paste, and search using their web link).

You may be surprised how many people are now actively posting on Mastodon (and enjoying it). Following the people and sites on this list is a great way to join them!

Scroll to the bottom to see changelogs and what's new!

Who to follow on Mastodon?

Windows Central

• Windows Central: @windowscentral@mastodon.cloud
• Zac Bowden: @zacbowden@mastodon.social
• Jez Corden: @JezCorden@mastodon.online
• Richard Devine: @richdevine@mstdn.social
• Daniel Rubino: @daniel_rubino@newsie.social
• Ben Wilson: @trzomb@mastodon.online

Tech Sites

• Ars Technica (bot): @arstechnica@geeknews.chat
• Android Police (bot): @androidpolice@mstdn.social
• Deskmodder: @Deskmodder@mastodontech.de
• Dr. Windows: @drwindows@mastodontech.de
• InsideXbox.de: @InsideXboxDE@mastodon.social
• 9to5Mac: @9to5Mac@mastodon.online
• 9to5Google: @9to5google@home.social
• OnMSFT: @onmsft@techhub.social
• PCMag: @PCMag@mastodon.social
• TechAltar: @Techaltar@mas.to
• Techmeme (bot): @Techmeme@techhub.social
• TWiT Podcasts: @TWiT@mastodon.social
• The Verge (bot): @verge@wuff.space
• WindowsArea.de: @windowsarea@social.tchncs.de
• WinFuture.de: @WinFuture@mastodon.social
• Windows On Windows: @windowsonwindows@mas.to
• Xboxmedia: @Xboxmedia@mastodon.social

Tech Reporters and Personalities 

• Dina Bass: @dinabass@mastodon.social
• Hayden Barnes: @hayden@tty0.social
• Hans Brender, Mr.OneDrive: @HansBrender@mastodon.social
• Ed Bott: @edbott@mastodon.social
• Lesley Carhart: @hacks4pancakes@infosec.exchange
• Ben Collins: @oneunderscore__@mastodon.social
• Chris Davies: @c_davies@mstdn.social
• Eva Galperin: @evacide@mastodon.lol
• FireCube: @FireCubeStudios@mastodon.social
• Lisa Gade: @lisagade@mastodon.social
• Scott Galloway: @profgalloway@twtr.plus
• Lauren Goode: @laurengoode@mastodon.social
• Jensen Harris: jensenharris@mastodon.social
• Leo Laporte: @leo@twit.social
• Micha Lee: @micahflee@infosec.exchange
• Jason Leopold: @JasonLeopold@journa.host
• Casey Newton: @caseynewton@mastodon.social
• Phil Nickinson: @philnickinson@mastodon.social
• Dan Patterson: @danpatterson@mastodon.social
• Jason Perlow: @jperlow@journa.host
• Chris Pirillo: @ChrisPirillo@mastodon.social
• JR Raphael: @jr@twit.social
• Christine Romero: @christyxcore@worldkey.io
• Brad Sams: @Bdsams@mastodon.social
• Anshel Sag: @anshelsag@mastodon.social
• Joanna Stern: @joannastern@mastodon.world
• SwiftOnSecurity: @SwiftOnSecurity@infosec.exchange
• Paul Thurrott: @thurrott@twit.social
• Joshua Topolsky: @joshuatopolsky@mastodon.online
• WalkingCat: @h0x0d@mstdn.social
• Rich Woods: @TheRichWoods@mstdn.social

Microsoft

• Nick Craver: @Nick_Craver@infosec.exchange
• Damian Edwards: @damianedwards@hachyderm.io
• David Fowl @davidfowl@hachyderm.io
• Brandon LeBlanc: @brandonleblanc@mastodon.social
• Jen Gentleman: @JenMsft@mastodon.social
• Michael Gillett: @MichaelGillett@mastodon.social
• Aaron Greenberg: @aarongreenberg@mastodon.sdf.org
• Mike Griese: @zadjii@mastodon.social
• Scott Hanselman: @shanselman@hachyderm.io
• Stefan Malter: @malter365@mastodontech.de
• Tim Mulholland: @tlmii@hachyderm.io
• Kyle Pflug: @kylealden@toot.cafe
• Clint Rutkas: @clintrutkas@hachyderm.io
• Dona Sarkar: @donasarkar@mastodon.social
• Phil Spencer: @xboxp3@mastodon.sdf.org
• Frank X. Shaw: @fxshaw@mastodon.social
• Michael West: @michaelwest@mastodon.social
• Doug Winnie: @sfdesigner@mstdn.social

Google

• Dieter Bohn: @backlon@mastodon.xyz
• Hiroshi Lockheimer: @lockheimer@mastodon.world
• Danny Sullivan: @dannysullivan@mastodon.social

Mozilla

• Mozilla: @mozilla@mastodon.social

Qualcomm

• Sascha Segan: @saschasegan@mastodon.online

T-Mobile

• Desmond Smith: @askdes@twit.social

The Verge staff

• Adi Robertson, senior reporter – @thedextriarchy@mastodon.social
• T.C. Sottek, executive editor – @wizard@mastodon.xyz
• Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor – @barbk@mastodon.social
• Richard Lawler, senior news editor – @rjcc@mastodon.xyz
• Dan Seifert, deputy editor – @dcseifert@mastodon.social
• Monica Chin, senior reviewer – @monicawchin@masto.nu
• Antonio G. Di Benedetto, commerce / deals writer – @superantonio64@mastodon.social
• Jon Porter, news reporter – @jonporty@mastodon.social
• Jay Peters, news writer – @jaypeters@mastodon.social
• Elizabeth Lopatto, senior correspondent – @lopatto@mastodon.xyz
• Jess Weatherbed, news writer – @ZombieWretch@tech.lgbt
• Alex Heath, deputy editor – @alexeheath@mas.to

What apps to use?

Surprisingly, there are some great app options if you're on Android or behind a PC.

If on your Windows computer, use the website as a progressive web app (PWA) by "installing" it via Microsoft Edge. You can pin it to your Taskbar and desktop just like an app. 

Another tip: On Mastodon, go to Preferences > Appearance and check to Enable advanced web interface to deliver a Tweetdeck-like experience.

On Android, the official Mastodon app is already great, but you can also use Megalodon for Mastodon, which is an offshoot of the official app, delivering way more features. Many people also like Tusky for Mastodon. 

Other tricks for Mastodon

Besides going through this list, you can use third-party tools like Fedfinder, which looks at who you follow on Twitter and finds them for you on the Fediverse (Mastodon), allowing you to import the list to your Mastodon account in a few easy steps.

You can also use another third-party service called Moa.party, which lets you cross-post between Twitter and Mastodon (in either direction), which is a good trick if you’re not quite ready to jump to Mastodon full-time.

We’ll update this page with more tools and tricks as we come across them, so give it a bookmark and share it with others!

Mastodon list changelog

These are all the additional Mastodon accounts we have added and by update period to make it easier to sort and keep track.

Updated 12/21/2022: 

• Hayden Barnes: @hayden@tty0.social
• Dieter Bohn: @backlon@mastodon.xyz
• Hans Brender, Mr.OneDrive: @HansBrender@mastodon.social
• Nick Craver: @Nick_Craver@infosec.exchange
• Richard Devine: @richdevine@mstdn.social
• Damian Edwards: @damianedwards@hachyderm.io
• David Fowl @davidfowl@hachyderm.io
• Aaron Greenberg: @aarongreenberg@mastodon.sdf.org
• Mike Griese: @zadjii@mastodon.social
• Mozilla: @mozilla@mastodon.social
• Hiroshi Lockheimer: @lockheimer@mastodon.world
• Stefan Malter: @malter365@mastodontech.de
• Tim Mulholland: @tlmii@hachyderm.io
• Chris Pirillo: @ChrisPirillo@mastodon.social
• Kyle Pflug: @kylealden@toot.cafe
• Clint Rutkas: @clintrutkas@hachyderm.io
• Dona Sarkar: @donasarkar@mastodon.social
• Sascha Segan: @saschasegan@mastodon.online
• Desmond Smith: @askdes@twit.social
• Phil Spencer: @xboxp3@mastodon.sdf.org
• The Verge (bot): @verge@wuff.space
• Danny Sullivan: @dannysullivan@mastodon.social
• Doug Winnie: @sfdesigner@mstdn.social

Also created sub-sections for Mozilla, Qualcomm, Google, and The Verge.

Updated 12/20/2022: 

• Jez Corden: @JezCorden@mastodon.online
• Deskmodder: @Deskmodder@mastodontech.de
• InsideXbox.de: @InsideXboxDE@mastodon.social
• Jensen Harris: jensenharris@mastodon.social
• Christine Romero: @christyxcore@worldkey.io
• Anshel Sag: @anshelsag@mastodon.social
• Paul Thurrott: @thurrott@twit.social
• Ben Wilson: @trzomb@mastodon.online
• Rich Woods: @TheRichWoods@mstdn.social
• Michael West: @michaelwest@mastodon.social
• Xboxmedia: @Xboxmedia@mastodon.social

With so much going on every day, it's easy to miss a few stories from the world of Microsoft. Each weekend we wrap up the biggest stories from the last seven days and put them in a bite size package. From the potential shutdown of Twitter to the return of features on the Windows 11 Taskbar, here are the biggest news stories from this week.

Windows 11 Taskbar

When Microsoft launched Windows 11, it caused controversy with the operating system's new Taskbar. In addition to having a new look and location for the Start menu, the Taskbar lacked functionality that has been on Windows for years. Two of those removed features are set to return, according to recent reports (via Albacore on Twitter).

Windows 11 will soon regain the "never combine apps" option and the ability to display seconds within the System Tray. Some features, such as docking the Taskbar to the top or side of your screen, will not return to Windows 11, so getting some options back will be a welcome change.

Steam Deck scare for Destiny 2

Due to a shared screenshot on Reddit, it appeared that Bungie had blocked Destiny 2 on Steam Deck when the device was running Windows. The image showed an error message that read, "Destiny 2 is not currently supported on Steam Deck." This led to concern in the gaming community, since Destiny 2 is not available on Steam Deck when it has Linux installed and Windows was one of the only ways to play the popular game on the device.

Fortunately for Destiny 2 players, it turned out that the error message was an isolated incident. The original poster on Reddit reinstalled the new APU driver that seemed to have been the cause of the error. Following the update, the game worked fine on Steam Deck.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 launches

NVIDIA launched its powerful RTX 4080 graphics card this week. Fresh on the heels of the RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 promises significant gains compared to the previous generation while not being quite as expensive as its maxed-out sibling.

The RTX 4080 will be the sweet spot for many gamers on the hunt for one of the best graphics cards. It targets 4K gaming and supports DLSS, ray tracing, and other features you'd expect from a GPU in its class.

Pricing for the RTX 4080 starts at $899, though finding one in stock or at its suggested retail price will be difficult. We have a live blog on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 preorders and where to find stock to help you order the new GPU.

Qualcomm announces Oryon CPUs

Qualcomm announced its Oryon CPUs at its annual Qualcomm Summit this week. The Nuvia-based processors are set to deliver a significant bump to Windows 11 on ARM and rival Apple's M-series CPUs. While the Oryon processors were once going to ship earlier, the current plan is for them to become commercially available in 2024.

ARM CPUs are expected to reach a 30% market share by 2026, according to some industry experts. Hitting that mark would require steady growth from Apple's Mac devices as well as more Windows 11 on ARM PCs shipping. Qualcomm's Nuvia-based Oryon CPUs could be a major part of the growth of ARM on PCs, though we'll have to see if the chips meet expectations.

Twitter troubles

The ongoing trouble at Twitter is one of the biggest news stories in the world, not just in realm of tech. The social media platform has run into several issues since it was purchased by Elon Musk for $44 billion. The company's new owner made several controversial decisions, many of which drove away veteran employees. He also spearheaded the verification confusion involving Twitter Blue.

It's feared that Twitter may shut down following a mass exodus of employees (via iMore). We recently ran a poll about Twitter and if Microsoft should buy the social media platform. Our readers were rather evenly split on the topic.

Reviews

Our team of experts stays on top of the latest accessories, devices, and games. Over the last week, we looked at a WaterField Designs pouch for Steam Deck, Sonic Frontiers on Xbox, and more.

• Pentiment Xbox review: A prodigious, pseudo-pious period piece of an imperfect past
• Sonic Frontiers Xbox review: A rich adventure tripped by tedious distractions
• Earthworks Audio Ethos XLR microphone review: Perfect broadcast audio for creators
• WaterField Designs pouch for Steam Deck review: Subtle and stylish with space for essential extras

What you need to know

• Twitter has been in turmoil since Elon Musk purchased the social media platform a few weeks ago.
• Recent reports suggest that Twitter could shut down permanently following a mass departure of employees.
• Windows Central readers were split almost 50/50 on if Microsoft should purchase Twitter.

Since Elon Musk purchased Twitter, the social media platform has spiraled into disarray. The $44 billion deal was followed by dramatic moves by Musk to reduce costs. Twitter has lost or fired several employees since Musk took over, including a reported recent mass exodus.

Last week, our managing editor Jez Corden shared five reasons that Microsoft should buy Twitter. He pointed toward Microsoft's history with LinkedIn, the potential benefit for the public that a stable Twitter could provide, and the possibility of integrating Twitter with other Microsoft products. 

Following Corden's piece, we ran a poll to see if our readers think Microsoft should purchase Twitter.

Our readers are almost perfectly split. 51.88% believe that Microsoft should purchase Twitter while 48.12% say that it should not.

It's worth noting that the ongoing Twitter saga evolves quickly. Every day there are major stories that break and changes to the situation. We only ran our poll earlier this week, but Twitter has run into serious issues since then. It's gotten so bad that there is a possibility that Twitter could shut down for good.

If you'd like to stay up to date on the Twitter drama, which could ironically become more difficult if Twitter starts slowing down or shuts down, make sure to follow our colleagues at iMore. They have a live blog with the latest on Twitter and if it will shut down.

Do you agree with our readers? Reach out to us on Twitter to let us know. If the platform is down before you can share your thoughts, hop on over to our TikTok.

Twitter has had a turbulent time since it was bought by Elon Musk. After trying to pull out of the $44 billion deal for the company, Musk eventually went through with his purchase. He followed that up with layoffs, forced long hours, and several moves that drove the value of Twitter into a downward spiral.

On top of worsening working conditions, Musk spearheaded a confusing switch to the Twitter verification process that's led to impersonators that appear genuine to anyone who isn't plugged into the 24/7 news cycle. There's even an extension to show which accounts paid for a check mark and which are verified genuine accounts, though even that isn't a perfect fix.

Things have gotten bad enough that Musk warned that Twitter could declare bankruptcy (via Bloomberg).

While the future of Twitter is uncertain, our managing editor suggested a potential solution that few have discussed, have Microsoft buy Twitter. Corden ran through five reasons that Microsoft should purchase Twitter, including its social media clout (LinkedIn), the potential benefits of a deeper integration between Twitter and Xbox and Windows, and the positive PR that Microsoft would earn.

"Microsoft could grab Twitter for a bargain given how things are going if the will and interest are there. And it certainly seems to me that Microsoft is interested in getting into consumer-facing social media," said Corden.

He later added, "were Microsoft to come in and save this much-beloved platform, it would most likely be met with appreciation that no amount of money could typically buy."

But that's just one man's opinion. We'd like to know what you think. Do you believe that Microsoft should purchase Twitter? If it did, what would you like the tech giant to do with the social media platform? Let us know in the poll above and share your thoughts with us on — ironically — Twitter.

Twitter is in turmoil right now. The social media platform has run into several issues since being purchased by Elon Musk. One of the problems is that Twitter now has two verification systems, only one of which actually verifies legitimate accounts. 

At the moment, Twitter Blue subscribers have a check mark appear next to their account, even if they're parody accounts or impersonators. Some genuine brands have an "official" badge as well, but that only appears in certain areas of Twitter. The result is confusion online, as well as some pranks like a fake Nintendo account with a blue check sharing an image of Mario showing his middle finger.

To address the issue, a developer created a browser extension called eight-dollar that differentiates between Twitter Blue check marks and verified accounts.

The extension is available on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Thankfully for Edge users, Microsoft's browser can install Chrome extensions. Getting eight-dollars onto Edge will require some additional work, however.

To install the browser on Edge (or Chrome), you need to enable developer mode, download the extension through GitHub, unzip the folder, and load the unpacked files. The steps are roughly the same on Chrome and Edge, but the options are in slightly different places. Here's how to get the eight-dollars extension on Edge:

1. Open Edge
2. Navigate to edge://extensions
3. Enable developer mode
4. Download the eight-dollars extension through GitHub
5. Extract the folder you just downloaded
   • Note that you may have to extract the files into a specific folder. You need all of the eight-dollar files in a single folder for the next step
6. Go back to edge://extensions and click Load unpacked
7. Select the folder that has the eight-dollars files

The extension should be running now. If it's not, check the extensions section of Edge and toggle eight-dollars to be enabled.

If the installation process went smoothly, then Twitter should show who is actually verified and who paid for a check mark.

It's unclear when the check mark situation will be resolved. The social media platform is struggling right now in several areas. Our managing editor Jez Corden recently argued why Microsoft should purchase Twitter.

Twitter is in trouble. 

As of writing, the firm has reportedly seen an exodus of executive-level staff, not 24 hours after the team attempted to put on a brave face during a Twitter spaces call in which Elon Musk pleaded with the community to give him more time. It seems that time may be running out. 

Twitter has been embroiled in drama for the best part of a year at this point. Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX fame took a significant investment in the company, before inexplicably offering $44 billion to purchase the entire thing. Realizing his mistake, he attempted to pull out of the deal, before accepting that he had no legal basis to do so. As a result, he turned up to the firm's San Francisco offices carrying a sink. Now it seems that playful visual metaphor may need to be repurposed, given that it seems the company is sinking. 

Musk's rapid upheaval of Twitter's culture saw hundreds of staff laid off, advertisers abandoning ship, a whirlwind of rules abuse and impersonation, and now, an exodus of key staff. Musk also reportedly briefed staff that the firm may, in fact, have to declare bankruptcy. 

Twitter has a small footprint in the global landscape of social media, dwarfed by platforms like TikTok and Facebook. Despite this, the small platform enjoys a gargantuan amount of influence, allowing creators and communities of all shapes and sizes to congregate in a single place. Twitter is far more collaborative than platforms like TikTok and Instagram, functioning almost more like a global chat room than a traditional individual-based social media platform. This fact also made it notoriously difficult to monetize, however, with the firm posting profitable quarters only a couple of times in its lengthy history.

Regardless of what happens next, I think it presents a unique and rare opportunity for Microsoft, who has shown interest in purchasing social platforms like Discord and TikTok in the past. 

Here's why I think Twitter is actually a perfect fit for Microsoft.

1. Microsoft has little social clout

Microsoft's business is incredibly diverse, with a portfolio spanning business interests, consumer hardware, subscription services, and even military contracts. One area that has generally eluded the company, however, is social media.

Of course, Microsoft owns LinkedIn, but it's a stuffy and "unfun" social network that orients around presenting your most professional self for recruiters and work peers. Twitter would be the ideal yin to LinkedIn's yang, giving Microsoft a fun and vibrant community for developing the reach of its growing Bing Ads business. 

Microsoft clearly seems to agree with me on this one. The firm reportedly attempted to purchase chat platform Discord, and was also involved in the strange TikTok acquisition drama of the Trump presidency. 

Microsoft could grab Twitter for a bargain given how things are going if the will and interest are there. And it certainly seems to me that Microsoft is interested in getting into consumer-facing social media. 

2. Inflation means their cash reserves are losing value

While inflation may have peaked, pending some positive economic news lately, it's still experiencing some surprising highs. With inflation up, the value of Microsoft's vast cash reserves is technically decreasing, as the value and purchasing power per dollar is diminished. 

Inflation will doubtless come down from its recent peak either now or in the near future, but it's always gradually rising. The value of Microsoft's cash reserves is static unless spent, and right now, Twitter is looking likely to be either shuttered or sold for a loss as Musk's strange experiment increasingly goes awry. 

Microsoft is purchasing Activision Blizzard for $69 billion dollars, yet they still have vast cash reserves beyond this. Elon Musk would probably be eager to at least break even on his insane $44 billion punt on Twitter, but I'm sure given the way things are going, there's going to be a lot of wiggle room here. 

3. Deeper integration with consumer-facing platforms like Xbox and Windows

Microsoft has a checkered history with consumers. Its mismanagement of the Windows Phone and Lumia brands left quite literally millions of consumers with phones facing an end-of-life prospect, which doesn't exactly instill confidence. The Xbox One launch was also notoriously botched, with mixed messaging and a price point that allowed Sony's PS4 to aggressively undercut while offering more power. 

Microsoft has turned it around in recent years, however. Surface devices have proven themselves in the marketplace and created entirely new computing categories. Microsoft has also rebuilt Xbox's image (with heaps of marketing on Twitter, I might add), building up the value of the brand. However, Microsoft has also struggled to compete in new categories like streaming video, and video sharing. 

Twitter would give Microsoft an established audience that its failed Mixer streaming platform never had. It would also give Microsoft a platform for deeper community-building tools and video sharing for its platforms like Xbox, and in the future, Battle.net, should the Activision-Blizzard purchase go through. Game clips, game streaming, and perhaps even direct Xbox Cloud game streaming right from within the Twitter app. 

4. Great PR move

This ties in again with consumers, but Microsoft still has a bit of an image problem. Beyond the positive communities surrounding Xbox, Microsoft's purchase of Github for example was met with alarm and distrust from the developer community initially, although the platform has gone from strength to strength and maintains a commitment to open source. 

Twitter is a platform loved by millions of consumers, tens of thousands of communities, and thousands of brands. Elon Musk's harebrained attempt to make sense of his absurd $44 billion purchase of the platform has created a vacuum in the social media landscape, leaving many small businesses and content creators wondering if they're going to lose a massive chunk of their audience overnight. 

Were Microsoft to come in and save this much-beloved platform, it would most likely be met with appreciation that no amount of money could typically buy. 

5. "Empower others to do more"

I built my entire career on this platform. I was a high school dropout. I had no prospects. I had no qualifications. It's only through the use of Twitter that I was able to meet Windows Central editor-in-chief Daniel Rubino, build up an audience while hobby blogging, and eventually find employment. 

Paraphrased, Microsoft's mission statement includes the mantra "empower others to do more," and no platform exemplifies this like Twitter. Yes, it loses money (right now), but the social empowerment Twitter brings to individuals and marginalized groups cannot be understated. Small indie games can find massive audiences through platforms like Twitter. Individuals like myself have built up careers and completely changed the fortunes of themselves and their families through the possibilities therein. Protest movements against oppressive regimes organize on platforms like Twitter, with whistleblowers using it to highlight corruption and injustice the world over.

If Microsoft is truly serious about its mission statement "empower others to do more," no gesture would prove that more succinctly than saving Twitter. 

As we delve deeper into what current Silverlight programmers are up to in exploring Windows Phone 7, a few things are becoming evident:

• Generally speaking, they love it
• It's easy
• There's lots of development and excitement amongst the community

Case in point is this "sample" app (e.g. something someone whipped up in very little time to explore the framework): geoGallery.

geoGallery is a photo app that pulls pictures from Picasa to your device based on your current location. Pretty cool.  It's even more cool knowing that developers are turning out programs left and right so easily and enthusiastically.

Another is this Twitter app from Governor Technology. They seem to be keen on actually building this, so may be worth to keep an eye on at this very early stage. (And lets not forget Twikini's WP7 app).

We're confident in stating that WP7's development framework is going to give a huge kick in the pants to software offerings in the Marketplace. In other words, we haven't seen this much interest from developers since the iPhone and Android SDK days.

Check out the video of geoGallery in action and how it all works from Silverlight developer Levente Mihály. And Levente? Go ahead and submit that to the Marketplace, kthxbai!