X doubles down on chat culture

New platform rollout aims to reshape how users talk, share and connect

X has begun rolling out its long-awaited Chat platform, delivering the biggest lift to the app's messaging system since the early days of direct messages and signalling a clear push to keep younger users chatting inside the platform rather than elsewhere.

The redesign shifts X from a simple inbox to a more dynamic chat space, adding tools that mirror what many young users already expect from modern communication apps and making messaging feel less like an afterthought and more like a core experience.

The most notable change is the arrival of voice and video calling, letting users talk instantly without opening another app. This move places X in the same league as messaging heavyweights that already dominate daily digital conversations.

X has also added the ability to share files directly in chats, allowing users to exchange images, documents and media without relying on outside platforms. It's a practical shift for creators and students who depend on quick, seamless sharing.

Message editing and deletion have been introduced too, giving users more control when they mistype, overthink or simply want to clean up their chat history. The update aligns X with the flexibility found in other popular messaging ecosystems.

Privacy features have expanded, including end-to-end encryption for individual and group conversations. Encrypted media is supported as well, though X notes that some metadata, like recipient information, is still not protected under the system.

The company acknowledges that the new encryption does not yet eliminate vulnerability to man-in-the-middle attacks, meaning someone inside the company or an entity acting through legal authority could theoretically compromise a conversation without user awareness.

To address this, X says it is working on verification tools that will help users confirm whether their encrypted chats are authentic and safe, an approach already common in advanced secure messaging platforms used widely by privacy-conscious audiences.

The updated Chat platform is now available on iOS and the web, with an Android version expected soon. X says the Android build is in its final testing stages, signalling a near-term release for millions of users worldwide.

A voice memo feature is also in development, giving people the option to send short audio messages instead of typing. This tool is especially popular among younger users who prefer quick, expressive communication over formal text.

Earlier this year, X previewed parts of this messaging overhaul, including an early version of encrypted chats. The rollout, however, was paused in May when engineers identified issues that required further refinement before a broader release.

X did not give details about the specific problems at that time, but the decision to halt the rollout suggested that the company was prioritising stability and security before expanding its encrypted messaging framework across the platform.

The latest release indicates that those issues have been addressed to a workable degree, although X maintains that its cryptographic systems are still evolving and will be strengthened through future updates and technical improvements.

Another new layer is screenshot alerts, which notify users if someone captures an image of an encrypted conversation. The feature doesn't block screenshots, but it adds a measure of transparency that many younger users appreciate in sensitive chats.

These additions fit within X's broader strategy of becoming an all-in-one platform capable of hosting conversations, entertainment, media and transactions. The messaging overhaul is one more step in the company's shift toward building what it calls an "everything app."

Security experts, however, emphasise that encryption systems must be fully verifiable for users to trust them completely. They note that questions remain about how X handles encryption keys, how metadata is stored and who can potentially access protected communication.

Despite these concerns, the rollout marks one of the most substantial technical upgrades since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022. It signals an effort to modernise the platform for a generation that expects fast, flexible and private tools in one place. As X continues refining its features, the new Chat platform gives users a more engaging and adaptable space for digital conversation, drawing the company closer to the communication habits that define youth culture across online platforms today.