X has added some new elements to its updated DM interface, which it’s calling “XChat,” including the ability to search your X DMs, an option to block DMs from a specific user, expanded push notifications, and more.
X launched its refreshed chat last month, with end-to-end encryption as standard, and a newly refreshed DM back-end.
The updated XChat is only available to Premium subscribers at present, but conceptually at least, the updated DM infrastructure will play a key role in Elon Musk’s “everything app” vision for the future of the platform.
In line with this, X is now building out XChat with a range of familiar DM functions, including improved blocking within the chat interface.
As you can see, X has also added a new search option in the new DM UI, bringing it more into line with other messaging options.
X has also added typing indicators, enhancing the real time engagement feel.
While it’s also added inbox reactions, as well as new push notifications for replies and mentions.
As noted, these are not major evolutions in the broader sense of messaging UI, but they’re important updates for X’s revised messaging system, which could end up playing a key role in facilitating the next stage of X’s evolution.
Which will be centered around payments, and facilitating transactions in-stream. X is still developing its payments back-end, which will eventually (it hopes) enable users to transfer money, make purchases, and even replace their bank with their X account.
Connection to messaging could play a key role in this, providing a direct, encrypted connection process, which could also be where you transfer funds. That would align with Elon’s vision of re-creating WeChat for the Western world, with messaging being the central connector that links up WeChat’s various systems.
Which is why these updates are important, even if they’re not overly exciting.
It remains to be seen whether anyone will actually want to use X for messaging, or for banking and financial transactions, but that, at least in theory, is still where Elon and Co. are headed.
