X Splits DMs, Aims to Become a Messaging Tool

X is making strides toward becoming an all-in-one platform by decoupling its Direct Message (DM) functionality from its main feed. In a step towards Elon Musk’s “everything app” vision, X is working on allowing users to utilize the platform solely for messaging without interacting with the public timeline, effectively turning the DM system into its own distinct feature.

Currently, users can message on X without posting, but this update aims to create a more definitive separation between DMs and other app functions. For instance, users could block someone from messaging them without blocking their posts, providing greater flexibility in managing interactions.

In a quote reply to the X thread about the code relating to this upcoming change, Elon Musk has confirmed the company’s intention to decouple DMs from public posting, enhancing X’s utility as a standalone messaging tool.

However, the success of X’s decoupled DM feature depends on user adoption. X must offer something more compelling than existing platforms, which users have already integrated into their daily workflows. For many existing users, the segmentation of messages and X’s timeline won’t actually influence much directly, at least not until larger changes or tweaks are made to how the entire messaging system works.

This change comes soon after other major updates and additions to X’s user features. For example, Zoom-like virtual meetups are already well on their way, even if they will take time to match the quality and established flexibility of a tool like Zoom. Until this change is properly implemented, the specifics are purely up to speculation – and what little backend code people have been able to pick out.