On January 9, X, previously Twitter, announced its ambitious journey to metamorphose into an expansive "everything app." This strategic overhaul involves the incorporation of artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer payment systems, and a pronounced emphasis on delivering ads to its users. However, in the midst of this transformation, there is a notable omission — the exclusion of NFT profile pictures.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, experienced a significant surge in popularity back in 2021, marked by a peculiar period when a global pandemic seemingly confined the world indoors. During these peculiar times, individuals worldwide engaged in a frenzy of acquiring and "owning" infinitely copyable JPEGs through hefty financial transactions. Despite the initial fervor, X has decided to part ways with this digital trend, rendering NFT profile pictures obsolete on its platform.
TechCrunch keenly observed that simultaneous to X owner Elon Musk's announcement of unwanted new features for the platform, all references and options related to NFT avatars were surreptitiously removed. The once-bizarre and poorly explained process for Premium subscribers to flaunt their peculiarly drawn ape cartoons vanished entirely. What was once a section with an explanation on how Premium subscribers could display their NFTs in a hex-shaped profile picture has now been replaced with a more conventional focus on connecting people with similar interests.
Elon Musk's vision for the struggling X (or, hey, for the nice folks, why not explore BlueSky – reminiscent of Twitter's 2009 charm?) revolves around converting the micro-messaging site into his enigmatic "everything app." This transformation includes features such as peer-to-peer payments and the incorporation of AI to enhance user utility. Despite X's claim to be a "video-first platform" with its "Immersive Video" feature boasting over 100 million daily users, NFTs no longer hold a place in Musk's long-term strategy.
In the past, those subscribing to Twitter Premium had the privilege of showcasing their owned NFTs in a hex-shaped profile picture. Now, the emphasis has shifted towards creating communities and connecting with people who share similar interests. The move reflects Musk's evolving priorities for X, distancing it from the once-popular but now-controversial concept of NFTs.
This development follows a broader trend in the tech industry, exemplified by Facebook shutting down its own NFT efforts almost a year ago. As X quietly moves away from the NFT craze, existing hexagonal NFTs on the platform remain untouched. The hexagons serve as a reminder of a past digital trend, now fading into obscurity, while X charts a new course in the dynamic landscape of social media and digital innovation.