Since its acquisition by Elon Musk at the end of 2022, Twitter has become X and has adopted a new logo and several functional improvements. The principle remains simple: sharing short public messages, called posts (the old term "tweet" remains out of habit), to which other users react in real time.
In this guide, you will find the essential concepts to understand and use this is the international treasure without wasting time.
How does a post work?
Un post is a text message that can contain images, videos, a poll, a GIF, or a link. You write, you click on Post and your post immediately appears in your followers' feeds.
- Free accounts : 280 characters maximum.
- X Premium Subscribers : up to 25 characters per post, with formatting (bold, italics, lists).
A progress circle indicates the number of characters remaining; beyond that, the button becomes inactive. To develop a topic, link several posts together: this is called... thread (or "thread").
Reactions and interactions
Below each post, four icons summarize the main actions:
- Reply Your comment appears below the original post.
- repost : you republish the content to your subscribers, with or without comment.
- Like : a heart to indicate your appreciation.
- Share : copying the link, sending it via direct message or sharing it to other networks.
A fifth icon, "Bookmark," allows you to save a post to a private folder.
Hashtags and mentions: always key
- Hashtag : a word preceded by # (ex. #Paris2026This makes your post clickable and indexed. Users can find it through search or the trending page.
- Mention precede a username with @ (Ex. @Byothe) to alert him or to cite a source. The notification appears immediately in his tab Notifications.
Limiting the number of hashtags to two or three ensures smooth reading.
Verified and X Premium accounts
The famous blue badge is no longer issued based on manual identity verification. It now indicates that the holder pays a subscription. X PremiumThe main advantages:
- Posts up to 25,000 characters.
- Priority in responses and search.
- Advertising revenue sharing for eligible creators.
- Access to experimental features (extended editing, long 1080p videos).
Institutional or media accounts display a gold (corporate) or gray (public organization) badge. This badge no longer guarantees editorial reliability; always verify the legitimacy of accounts before sharing sensitive information.
Technical limitations and best practices
| Function | Free Account | Premium Account |
|---|---|---|
| Characters per post | 280 | 25 000 |
| Video | 2 minutes 20 (720p) | 3 hours (1080p) |
| Number of lists | 1 000 | 10 000 |
| Edition | 30 minutes, 5 changes | 1 hour, 25 changes |
Tips :
- Use short sentences to capture attention.
- Place your keywords in the first 120 characters; they will appear in mobile previews.
- Avoid loading a post with external links; a single main link is sufficient.
Glossary 2026
| Spas | Definition |
|---|---|
| Post | Message posted on X (ex-tweet). |
| repost | Republishing someone else's post (formerly "retweet"). |
| Response, | Public comment attached to a post. |
| A series of related posts to further develop a topic. | |
| Space | Live audio chat room. |
| Community | A public or private group focused on a theme. |
| Signet | Private backup of a post. |
| Blue Badge | Indicates an active X Premium subscription. |
Examples of professional and personal use
- Day before : Follow experts via thematic lists to filter your feed.
- Customer Service : Respond quickly to customer comments to improve your image.
- Live event : cover a conference by creating a thread with official hashtags.
- Portfolio : share your creations and pin an introductory post to the top of your profile.
In Summary
X retains Twitter's DNA: short messages, instant distribution, and public interaction. The platform has simply expanded its capabilities (long Premium posts, audio spaces, long videos) while preserving its core features: hashtags, mentions, and real-time feeds. With this guide, X for Dummies ", you have the basics to publish effectively, understand the scope of a badge, and adopt best practices without making mistakes.
