Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), has revealed plans to introduce video and audio call features to the social networking platform. Interestingly, these calls will not require users to share their phone numbers, ensuring privacy and convenience. This move is seen as part of Musk's vision to transform X into an all-encompassing "everything app," similar to Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s WeChat.
Musk's long-term goal is to emulate WeChat's success, which has successfully evolved from a mere messaging service into a super-app that offers a wide range of services including social media, gaming, and fintech. Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, has previously mentioned that the platform will include additional features such as payments and banking services.
By positioning X as an "effective global address book," Musk aims to enable users to make calls through the platform on various devices such as iOS, Android, Macs, and PCs. This approach further strengthens X's potential to become a comprehensive communication and social hub for its users.
In a recent update to its privacy policy, X also signaled its intention to collect biometric data. While the specific definition of what constitutes biometric data is not explicitly stated, it typically encompasses information obtained from a person's face, eyes, and fingerprints. In addition to biometric data, X plans to gather user information related to their jobs and education histories.
Ever since Elon Musk acquired Twitter for a staggering $44 billion, he has wasted no time in implementing significant changes. From doing away with the iconic blue bird logo to reversing bans on previously suspended accounts and phasing out the ability to block accounts, Musk's intentions to reshape the platform are clear. With the introduction of new services, such as video and audio calls, X is poised to transform into a multifaceted platform that caters to diverse user needs.