X Glitch Wipes Out Iconic Tweets, Links From 2011-2014, No Updates from Elon

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has encountered a significant technical glitch that has led to the deletion of images and links posted on the platform between 2011 and 2014.

This incident, discovered by X users Tom Coates and Brazilian vtuber @DaniloTakagi, has raised concerns about the platform's stability and the fate of cherished online memories.

X Glitch Affects Popular Tweets

The glitch appears to have a widespread impact, affecting tweets created during the specified period.

PCMag tells us in a report that notable among these is the disappearance of Ellen DeGeneres' iconic Oscars selfie. This snapshot generated over 2.8 million retweets and earned its place as the most retweeted post in history.

Alongside this loss, links that were shared using Twitter's link shortener have also been rendered non-functional, adding to user frustration.

Although the issue's exact cause remains unknown, The Verge speculates that it might be related to the changes Twitter introduced in 2016.

These changes, such as "enhanced URL enrichment" and "native attachments," allowed previews for linked websites and facilitated photo attachments without affecting the 140-character limit that defined the platform.

Curiously, the glitch seems to have a cutoff date around December 2014, coinciding with the emergence of metadata associated with these changes.

X Silently Working on a Fix

The restoration efforts have not gone unnoticed, with some images being revived after the glitch struck. A tweet capturing the moment when Barack Obama embraced the First Lady after his 2023 re-election was successfully recovered.

This restoration, however, has fueled speculation about the nature of the glitch. Was it an accidental technical error, or could it have been a deliberate cost-cutting measure under Elon Musk's leadership, who assumed control of X in recent times?

Musk's Influence on the Matter

Elon Musk's perspective on the matter is yet to be revealed, as the X owner or X CEO Linda Yaccarino, has remained silent regarding the issue.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the glitch's cause and the scope of its impact, one thing is clear: X is navigating through a period of transformation - and it is not going smoothly.

Previously known as Twitter, the platform underwent a rebranding initiative, aligning with Elon Musk's broader vision for the future.

Since Musk's takeover, the company has undergone numerous changes and faced significant challenges, including mass layoffs and structural adjustments. The billionaire even recently suggested removing the blocking feature.

For years, Twitter, now X, has been at the forefront of social media, influencing how people communicate and share information online.

As users wait for further developments and the platform's response, it remains to be seen how X will address this glitch and whether it will affect its users' confidence in the reimagined platform.

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