What Is X (Twitter) Used For in 2024?

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, Twitter, now rebranded as X, remains a pivotal platform. This comes as the number of Twitter users worldwide is projected to rise by 3.3% in 2024, to 429.1 million.

Unlike other popular social media platforms that emphasize multimedia or messaging, Twitter has its own unique niche and crowd. This prompts the question: Why do people use Twitter? In this article, we explore the top Twitter uses and what makes it stand out among giants like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

What is Twitter (X)?

Twitter, or X, is a social media platform that allows users to post and interact with short messages known as "tweets." Founded in 2006, Twitter was notably taken over by Elon Musk in 2022, sparking significant changes in the platform's operations and policies, including its renaming to X.

Today, X’s most popular features include:

Tweets: Users can post messages, known as “tweets,” up to 280 characters long, often including links, images, videos, and hashtags.
Following: Users can follow others to view their tweets in their curated and personalized feed of content.
Retweets and likes: Users can share (retweet) or like tweets from others, helping content spread across the platform.
Hashtags: Words or phrases prefixed with a "#" symbol (e.g., #news) help categorize tweets, making it easier to find and join conversations on specific topics.
Trends: Through this feature, X highlights popular hashtags and topics, showing what’s being discussed most widely on the platform at any given moment.
Direct messaging: Like other popular social media platforms, X also allows users to send private messages to each other, encouraging one-on-one communication outside beyond the public’s eye.

What is Twitter used for: Top Twitter uses in 2024

Activity	Percentage of active Twitter (X) users who do the following on the platform
Keep up to date with news and current events	59.6%
Follow or research brands and products	35.6%
Look for funny or entertaining content	35.1%
Post or share photos or videos	27.1%
Message friends and family	16.7%

The latest usage statistics on what people use Twitter (or X) for highlight the network’s multifaceted nature. Here’s a breakdown of the top Twitter uses in 2024.

1. Keeping up to date with news and current events (59.6%)

The data on Twitter use shows that it is currently the leading social media platform for users looking to stay informed about news and current events. Nearly three out of every five Twitter users are on the platform to stay up to date with current events.

This figure surpasses that of Facebook (57.7%) and significantly outstrips Pinterest, where only 13.9% of those on the platform use it for news. According to a recent study, two-thirds of journalists list Twitter as their go-to social network for work. The presence of the high number of journalists on Twitter enhances its reputation as a prime source for news.

2. Follow or research brands and products (35.6%)

What else is Twitter used for? This next statistic on Twitter use is sure to interest online business owners: More than one-third of Twitter’s users engage with the platform to follow brands and research products. This makes it a valuable tool for businesses looking to increase visibility and sales.

3. Look for funny or entertaining content (35.1%)

A substantial portion of Twitter’s user base also logs on to find humorous and entertaining content, highlighting the platform’s role in not just information but also entertainment.

4. Post or share photos or videos (27.1%)

While not as prevalent as on Instagram, where 70.1% of its users post multimedia on their accounts, more than one in four Twitter users also utilize the network to share personal media, contributing to a mix of content on the platform.

5. Message friends and family (16.7%)

Compared to platforms like Facebook, where 72.3% of users communicate with friends and family, and Instagram at 59.7%, Twitter is clearly a less popular medium for personal messaging. Just 16.7% of its users are on it to communicate with friends and family. This highlights Twitter’s role as more of a public forum than a medium for private social interactions, which is a contrast to the more personal and intimate exchanges seen on some other popular networks.