Why X Timelines Aren’t Updating: Common Issues Affecting Users
In a recent incident, many users of the social network X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, experienced significant issues with their notifications and timelines. This problem has raised concerns among users about the platform’s reliability and functionality. If you’re facing similar challenges, you’re not alone.
Timeline and Notification Issues on X
On Thursday night, numerous users reported that their timelines on X had stopped updating. This issue meant that they were not receiving alerts about new posts from the accounts they follow. As of 6 p.m. Eastern on May 8, I, too, experienced a complete halt in updates for nearly 15 hours.
Nature of the Problem
It appears that this issue is related to a server-side bug. Users have noted that their timelines are unresponsive whether they are using the X mobile app or accessing the platform via a web browser. Attempts to switch devices or browsers, as well as subscribing to X Premium, have not resolved the problem.
Community Reactions and Reports
- Downdetector: This website has tracked a spike in outage reports for X over the past 24 hours.
- Reddit Threads: Users have taken to Reddit to discuss their experiences, with many expressing frustration over the lack of notifications. One user from Germany reported, “No notifications since about 10 p.m. last night!”
- Another user mentioned, “I thought that uninstalling and reinstalling the app would work (it didn’t).”
X’s Previous Outages
This recent problem is not an isolated incident. X has faced several significant outages in the past:
- March 2023: Users were abruptly disconnected, leading to issues with accessing feeds and sending messages.
- December 2022 and July 2023: The platform experienced large-scale connectivity issues.
Company Response
As of now, X has not issued a comment on the ongoing issues. The last major outage led Musk to speculate, without evidence, that a cyberattack was the cause.
Impact of Workforce Reductions
Since Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter) for $44 billion in 2022, the company has undergone significant workforce reductions. The workforce was cut by about 80%, shrinking from 7,500 employees to just 1,300. As of January 2023, X reportedly had only 550 full-time engineers, according to CNBC. Another round of layoffs in November 2024 further impacted the engineering department.
For more information on updates regarding X and other tech-related news, check out our Tech News section.
