Can Twitter X be the West's answer to WeChat?

Updated on: 26 July 2023

Neil C. Hughes
Contributor

As Elon Musk champions a digital revolution with the transformation of Twitter into the super app X, we explore its potential impact on the global social media landscape.

In the relentlessly fickle world of social media, survival hinges on the ability to adapt and innovate continuously. Platforms must be agile and innovative to stay relevant as users' needs evolve and technology advances. Twitter, a platform synonymous with real-time conversations, breaking news, and hashtags, is on the cusp of a dramatic metamorphosis.

Just as a caterpillar morphs into a butterfly, Twitter—now rebranded as X — is set to shed its old skin and questionable reputation to emerge anew. The iconic blue bird has been replaced with a stylized X, signaling a radical departure from what we've come to know and expect. The mastermind behind this audacious pivot? None other than Elon Musk, the avant-garde tech mogul with a knack for disrupting industries and challenging norms.

In a surprising move, Musk, who bought Twitter in October 2022, recently announced plans to transform the platform into an 'Everything App.' Inspired by China's super app, WeChat, he envisions X as a digital ecosystem where messaging, social media, and payment services converge — a 'global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities,' tweeted Twitter's new CEO, Linda Yaccarino.

twitter

Users could be forgiven for thinking that Twitter's decline was part of Musk's grand design. Was the intent to dismantle the platform only to reconstruct it into a more formidable, multifaceted entity? Time will tell. Let's delve into the ramifications of this seismic shift, how Twitter could potentially morph into an integrated, service-oriented platform, and what this could mean for the global social media landscape.

Turning Twitter into a WeChat clone

Kick and Threads recently ignited a fierce battle of tech mimicry in a clone war. But the recent rebranding of Twitter appears to be an attempt to configure the social media platform as a WeChat clone for the West. According to The Verge, in his inaugural Q&A session with Twitter's team, Musk revealed a grand vision for Twitter to ascend to the one billion user mark by emulating aspects of successful platforms like WeChat and TikTok.

"There's no WeChat equivalent outside of China. You basically live on WeChat. If we can recreate that with Twitter, we'll be a great success."
Elon Musk

In China, WeChat has already reshaped the concept of a social media platform. It's not just a messaging app; it is an all-in-one ecosystem. Users can chat, shop, pay bills, transfer money, order groceries, and even interact with brands personally and directly. Businesses also leverage WeChat for internal communication, project management, and document sharing.

The future of social media may very well look like WeChat – a comprehensive platform that blurs the line between socializing, consuming, and transacting. With its massive user base and real-time engagement, Twitter could well be positioned to make a similar leap. However, the question remains: are Twitter users prepared to cast aside their beloved smartphone apps to be all in on X?

Does the west need an everything app?

Super apps have stormed onto the digital scene, predominantly in Asia, Africa, and Central America, but have yet to impact North America and Europe. These multi-functional platforms are beloved for their integrated services, bringing everything from messaging and social networking to food delivery and financial services into a single digital ecosystem.

Predictably, the seamless convenience they promise has made them popular among users and businesses alike, who appreciate the cost-effectiveness of such centralized platforms. Furthermore, localizing services to suit specific market needs, as demonstrated by the success of Gojek in Indonesia, has proven to be an intelligent strategy for super app proliferation.

However, adopting super apps in North America presents unique challenges. Initially, internet giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google solidified their positions as web-based services before the explosion of smartphones. These established companies later built mobile apps but retained their focused functionality in line with their initial web-only service offerings.

The concept of a super app, which essentially disrupts this separated functionality, might risk degrading app performance and impacting user engagement negatively. Additionally, North American consumers are habituated to using specific apps for specific services, making a transition to an all-in-one platform potentially complex.

Despite these hurdles, the potential for a globally-adopted super app cannot be discounted. Imagine a single platform catering to our social, informational, financial, and logistical needs – from catching up on the news, managing money transfers, and booking cabs to ordering meals. This level of convenience is incredibly enticing, but it comes with potential pitfalls.

Rethinking convenience: the great super app debate

We must tread with caution and foresight as we stand at the brink of a potential super app era. While the convenience and efficiency offered by these platforms can seem irresistible, the concentration of power they command is worthy of scrutiny.

One entity wielding excessive power and control over our finances, personal communications, lifestyle preferences, and much more can be an unsettling thought, especially when Musk is also exploring transhumanism with human brain implants to digitally enhance humans. This isn't just a case of company monopoly but a question of how much control we’re willing to relinquish in our quest for digital convenience. The emergence of Twitter's X further underscores this debate – are we ready to trade off our privacy to a single entity for the sake of convenience?

Moreover, it’s essential to consider cultural differences. What works in one part of the world might not necessarily translate seamlessly to another. With its preference for distinct applications for different needs, the Western audience may find the idea of a one-stop shop overwhelming and potentially dangerous.

The shift towards super apps should be a conscious and collective decision, not a consequence of technology outpacing our ability to comprehend its societal implications. Musk's X and other potential super apps need to prioritize user safety, privacy, and welfare over rapid expansion and monopolistic ambitions. As consumers, we must continue to question and shape this digital transformation to secure a future where technology serves us – not the other way around.