So much is changing in the social media space lately. New platforms are popping up, and even the ones we've grown up with are going through some serious transformation. One of the biggest shifts on the horizon? X (formerly Twitter) is rewriting its DM system and calling it XChat. Depending on how this plays out, it could either be a solid win for the hobby—or a frustrating setback.
Ever since Elon Musk took over X, we’ve seen change after change. From the rebranding of verification to the supposed unbanning of accounts, the platform hasn’t stopped evolving. Now, DMs are next on the chopping block. But this time, the change might actually be a good one.
There’s no official breakdown yet of what XChat will be, but multiple media outlets are speculating it’ll work like Facebook Messenger or Signal—a standalone messaging system with encryption. The idea is to improve privacy and security. Makes sense, considering how DMs right now are filled with bots, spam, and hacked accounts. Still, this raises a question for the hobby: how will this affect how we communicate with providers?
Right now, DMs on X are a key way to connect. Not every provider uses them, but the ones who do often rely on DMs for everything from initial conversation to finalizing bookings. When we’re not told to email or hit a website, messaging through X is usually our next best option.
Personally, I don’t think this will drastically change how we move. The community always finds a way. Whether it’s X, IG, email, or something else—we adapt. But there’s still one thing that nags at me: will certain words be restricted? That’s something that could actually get in the way. If XChat starts filtering language or flagging content like certain other platforms, that could limit the way we communicate, especially in an industry where discretion and directness matter.
Still, I’m holding out hope. A safer, encrypted system that weeds out spam could make things better. But like with every update on X lately, it’s a waiting game.
Until we get the full breakdown, all we can do is wait—and prep. If XChat lives up to the hype, we might finally get a DM system that respects both privacy and usability. But if it turns into another over-policed feature rollout, we’ll pivot like we always do. The hobby’s never been about the platform—it’s about how we move through it.
Ever since Elon Musk took over X, we’ve seen change after change. From the rebranding of verification to the supposed unbanning of accounts, the platform hasn’t stopped evolving. Now, DMs are next on the chopping block. But this time, the change might actually be a good one.
There’s no official breakdown yet of what XChat will be, but multiple media outlets are speculating it’ll work like Facebook Messenger or Signal—a standalone messaging system with encryption. The idea is to improve privacy and security. Makes sense, considering how DMs right now are filled with bots, spam, and hacked accounts. Still, this raises a question for the hobby: how will this affect how we communicate with providers?
Right now, DMs on X are a key way to connect. Not every provider uses them, but the ones who do often rely on DMs for everything from initial conversation to finalizing bookings. When we’re not told to email or hit a website, messaging through X is usually our next best option.
Personally, I don’t think this will drastically change how we move. The community always finds a way. Whether it’s X, IG, email, or something else—we adapt. But there’s still one thing that nags at me: will certain words be restricted? That’s something that could actually get in the way. If XChat starts filtering language or flagging content like certain other platforms, that could limit the way we communicate, especially in an industry where discretion and directness matter.
Still, I’m holding out hope. A safer, encrypted system that weeds out spam could make things better. But like with every update on X lately, it’s a waiting game.
Until we get the full breakdown, all we can do is wait—and prep. If XChat lives up to the hype, we might finally get a DM system that respects both privacy and usability. But if it turns into another over-policed feature rollout, we’ll pivot like we always do. The hobby’s never been about the platform—it’s about how we move through it.
