• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Users disappointed as X announces it's scrapping DMs and replacing them with bizarre new feature

Home> Social Media> Twitter

Published 16:34 17 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Users disappointed as X announces it's scrapping DMs and replacing them with bizarre new feature

DMs are the latest 'Twitter' feature to be nuked by Musk

Harry Boulton

Harry Boulton

Featured Image Credit: SOPA Images / Contributor via Getty
Elon Musk
Twitter
Social Media

Advert

Advert

Advert

A major shakeup could very well be on the way for Elon Musk's X, as he plans to scrap another major feature that was carried over from when it was known as Twitter, replacing it with his very own 'X'-branded alternative.

Elon Musk's somewhat unwitting takeover of Twitter, now X, began what has been a fairly turbulent few years for the popular social media platform, as while at one point last year it had lost around 72% of its initial $42 billion value, it was 'rescued' a few months ago when bought by the similarly Musk-owned xAI.

It's become quite challenging to count the number of changes that Musk has made in his nearly three years of leadership, but among the most impactful is his reshaping of verified blue ticks into 'X Premium', his changes to the block feature, and the integration of artificial intelligence chatbot 'Grok', which now boasts a bizarre '18+ Sexy Mode' if that floats your boat.

Another major shift could be on the horizon though, as hints from software engineers at X and outside experts have indicated that the ever-inoffensive direct messages (DMs) feature is on the verge of being scrapped, with a new replacement named 'XChat' waiting in the wings, as reported by Mashable.

Advert

Musk's latest bombshell change on X could reshape how you use DMs (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Musk's latest bombshell change on X could reshape how you use DMs (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

While it's no surprise that Musk is opting for another feature with his favored 'X' branding in place, projections show that the new messaging format would bring a number of new features, with some rather unexpected.

The first hint that a replacement would be on its way came from X employee Zach Warunek, who revealed that both DMs and DM requests would "be gone soon," although this has been clarified to reflect that they are being 'rewritten' into XChat instead of simply removed from the platform.



Advert

On top of this, web developer Nima Owji has illustrated that employees at X are already using XChat to message eachother internally, and that it's being positioned as a direct rival to pre-existing dedicated messaging services like WhatsApp.

XChat will reportedly feature encrypted messaging, disappearing messages, expanded file sharing features, full message deletion, and voice messages in the future.

Owji has even shared a look at XChat, and while it's unclear whether this is an actual image or simply just a mockup, it shows a few of the new features on offer, even if it essentially looks like DMs with a different name.



Advert

It's not exactly proven to be a popular decision across social media though, with many speaking out against the change.

"F***ing pointless," writes one user in the replies of Owji's reveal, pointing out in addition that the change "might kill a f***ton of history if old DMs don't move over."

Another adds that "it looks just like messages, what am I missing?" They're certainly not alone in thinking that too, as the whole change at the moment appears to be nothing more than a name change with a few feature additions in the background.

This appears to be part of Elon Musk's continued push towards X as the 'everything app', as he's previously hinted at the addition of banking features in the past, but one user on Reddit writes: "It's like they forget that it is a 'social' media site."

Advert

Some have even speculated that this could be a reaction to reports that Musk previously asked a crypto influencer if she'd have his children via DMs, so the disappearing messages feature would have come in handy for him there.

It's still up in the air as to when XChat will arrive and what form it'll take when it drops onto the social media platform, but it's clear from the response that it's not what many have been asking for.

  • Elon Musk's X announces huge change to blocking feature branded 'dangerous' by users
  • Users in disbelief as Elon Musk rolls out creepy new feature on X for certain profiles
  • Spotify users furious after app adds bizarre feature 'nobody asked for'
  • CEO of X announces departure in shocking statement

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
19 hours ago
20 hours ago
22 hours ago
  • lilyphillip_s / Instagramlilyphillip_s / Instagram
    2 hours ago

    OnlyFans model makes sad admission that her parents have 'lost friends' due to her career

    Her controversial actions have had an unintended effect

    Social Media
  • 5./15 WEST/Getty5./15 WEST/Getty
    19 hours ago

    Texas teen hospitalized with severe burns after viral TikTok trend goes wrong

    The brothers tried to recreate a TikTok experiment

    Social Media
  • Chip Somodevilla / Staff via GettyChip Somodevilla / Staff via Getty
    20 hours ago

    Bizarre reason people think pizza has confirmed President Trump's medical status

    Things apparently reached 'DEFCON 1'

    Social Media
  • TikTok / lochie__jonesTikTok / lochie__jones
    22 hours ago

    Australian YouTuber slammed after disturbing video shows him 'stealing from graves'

    He has continued mocking the situation on TikTok and Instagram

    Social Media