How to Use X (Formerly Twitter) for News and Conversations

X, which was called Twitter until 2023, is a platform built around short public posts called "posts" (formerly tweets). It's the place where news breaks first, where public figures communicate directly with their audiences, and where ongoing conversations about sports, politics, entertainment, and every other topic happen in real time. Many people use it purely as a news feed — following reporters, news organizations, and public figures they care about.

Creating an account is free at x.com. Choose a username (called a handle, which starts with @), set up a profile photo and brief bio, and you're ready. You don't have to post anything — many X users only read and never post.

Once you have an account, the most important thing is deciding who to follow. Follow local news stations, national news organizations, accounts related to your hobbies or interests, and a few public figures whose opinions you want to hear. Your home feed shows posts from people you follow in roughly chronological or algorithmic order.

Each post can be up to 280 characters. They can include photos, videos, links, and GIFs. To respond to someone's post, click the speech bubble icon below it. To share someone else's post with your own followers, click the repost icon (two arrows in a circle). A "Like" is the heart icon.

Hashtags (words with # in front, like #weather or #SuperBowl) group posts about the same topic. Tapping a hashtag shows all recent posts using it. The Explore tab (the magnifying glass) shows trending topics and allows you to search for any term.

Muting and blocking are important tools. Muting means you stop seeing someone's posts but they can't tell. Blocking prevents someone from seeing or interacting with your account entirely. Use these freely to make your experience more pleasant.

X Premium is a paid subscription ($8/month as of 2026) that adds features like editing posts, posting longer content, and a blue checkmark. It's not necessary for most users — the free version is fully functional for reading and basic posting.