New messaging tools, encryption and video calls on Elon Musk’s platform

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is finally switching on its long-promised Chat feature to replace traditional direct messages. The new system is being rolled out to users as an all-in-one inbox with end-to-end encryption for one-to-one conversations. Chat also brings modern messaging tools that rival dedicated apps, including voice and video calling, file sharing and disappearing messages. For a service that has leaned heavily on real-time posts and public replies, it is a significant expansion into private communication.

Early previews shared by the company show a redesigned interface that places Chat more prominently alongside the main timeline. Users can create encrypted threads, check when messages are read and manage multiple conversations in a single view. X says encryption is enabled by default for most personal chats, though some features such as larger group conversations may come online later. The company is marketing Chat as a safer space for sensitive conversations, from business deals to activist organising.

Critics remain cautious about whether the platform’s internal security and governance can match its technical promises. X has repeatedly cut staff across trust and safety teams, and regulators in the European Union have already opened probes into content moderation and data protection. Privacy advocates say end-to-end encryption is a welcome step, but warn that metadata, backups and account-level security still determine how safe a conversation truly is. They also note that real trust will depend on how transparent X is about key management and potential law-enforcement requests.

For users, the upgrade may feel overdue. Rival platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram have long offered a mix of encrypted chats, voice calls and self-destructing messages. X has tried smaller features before, like voice messages in DMs, but never fully re-engineered its private inbox. By merging calls, attachments and new controls like editing or deleting sent texts, Chat is designed to keep users inside the app for longer stretches of their day.

The launch also fits into Elon Musk’s broader vision of turning X into an “everything app,” where users can message, shop, watch videos and eventually make payments. A richer messaging layer is central to that plan, particularly if X wants to compete with so-called super apps in Asia. Analysts say a sticky, encrypted chat service could help the company reduce churn and make it easier to cross-sell subscriptions or verification tiers.

Still, the rollout comes at a politically sensitive time. Governments worldwide are tightening rules on encrypted communications, arguing they can shield crime and extremism. Tech companies counter that secure messaging protects journalists, dissidents and ordinary citizens from surveillance and hacking. X now joins that debate more directly. Any future clash with regulators over Chat could define how far Musk is willing to go in defending private communications on a platform that has become a key outlet for political speech.

User reactions so far appear mixed. Power users and creators welcome having more tools in one place, while some long-time followers worry about yet another major change to a platform that has been in near-constant flux. Whether Chat becomes a core daily habit or just another icon in the app will depend on how smooth the rollout is and how reliably encryption and calls work outside promotional headlines.

Subhead 2 (use for regional impact and questions of trust)

The upgrade may have particular resonance in countries where activists and journalists already rely on X to share breaking news. Encrypted chats could offer them a safer way to coordinate in the same app where they publish public threads. At the same time, they face the risk that any sudden policy shift, security incident or ownership change could undercut those protections overnight.

In markets like South Asia, where many users juggle multiple messaging apps, Chat will have to prove it offers something genuinely new. Integration with live Spaces audio rooms, long-form posts and video might be one selling point, turning X into a single hub for public broadcasting and private follow-ups. If the company can keep the service stable and transparent, Chat could gradually move from novelty to necessity in the platform’s ecosystem.