Billionaire Elon Musk is pushing forward his ambition to transform X (formerly Twitter) into an “everything app” with the launch of XChat, a new messaging feature designed to rival the likes of WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.

Unveiled over the weekend, XChat introduces end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calling.

Musk described the tool as “all new” in a post on Sunday, emphasizing its focus on secure, private communication.

“All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages, and the ability to send any kind of file.  

“This is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, a whole new architecture. You can do audio/video calls without a phone number across all platforms,” Elon Musk posted.

Early reports suggest the feature is already in beta testing among paid X subscribers. Leaked screenshots by app researcher Nima Owji show support for group chats, a vanish mode, and a four-digit passcode to lock messages, a significant upgrade to X’s previous direct messaging capabilities.

The bigger picture 

XChat is part of Musk’s long-term goal of morphing X into a Western super app, similar to China’s WeChat.

This vision encompasses everything from messaging and payments to entertainment, commerce, and even dating.

Musk previously told employees he wants X to function as a digital bank and dating app by 2024, part of a sweeping transformation that could change how users engage with the platform.

He’s not alone in this race. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also building a “super app” through his side project, World, which recently launched an app store and biometric ID system called Orbs.

What you should know 

With 600 million monthly active users as of October 2024, Musk’s X holds a considerable lead but retaining that user base is critical.

The rollout of XChat could help the platform move beyond just being a public town square and into users’ everyday digital routines.

Last year, X unveiled plans to roll out a peer-to-peer payment system on the platform, saying it would unlock more user utility and new opportunities for commerce.

• The company said this would also showcase the power of the platform users living their “life in one place.”

• Reports have indicated that as of December 2023, X was licensed for payment processing in a dozen U.S. states, and by this January, that number stands at 14, with the recent additions of Arkansas and Pennsylvania.

• Musk had earlier said that he envisions a platform where users will be able to send money to others and extract those funds to authenticated bank accounts.

Microsoft Co-Founder, Bill Gates has expressed optimism about Africa’s future, predicting that Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, will become the world’s largest city.

Gates described the city’s projected growth as a reflection of Africa’s rising global relevance in the 21st century.

Speaking at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held in Lagos, Gates stated the continent’s demographic advantage, calling Africa the “most fascinating” region of the century due to its youthful population.

“Africa is a very young continent,” Gates said. “More than half of all children born this century will be African. That youthfulness will shape global trends in profound ways.”

Highlighting Lagos as a prime example of Africa’s urban expansion, Gates noted: “The city we’re in today will, by far, be the largest in the world. That’s going to make for a dynamic and vibrant environment, and the world will be watching.”

Gates cautioned that Africa’s potential will be determined by the investments made in the near term, particularly in health and education.

“Whether this young population drives transformative progress will depend on the choices we make in the next 20 years,” he said. “If we invest wisely, Africa’s future is nothing short of extraordinary.”

A famous TikTok celebrity, Abubakar Kilina, has been remanded in custody by a Kano magistrate’s court after arraignment on charges preferred by the Kano State Censorship Board.

In a statement on Tuesday, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, spokesperson of the board, accused Kilina of cross-dressing, use of expletives, and indecent behaviour on social media.

According to the Board , such kind of content is against the moral and religious standard upheld by the state. The case was heard at the No-Man’s-Land Magistrate Court, where Kilina pleaded guilty to the charges.

Barrister Garzali Maigari Bichi prosecuted the case.

Magistrate Hajiya Halima Wali presided, ordering Kilina’s remand from June 4 to 17, 2025, pending the court’s pronouncement.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Censorship Board, Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha stressed the agency’s incessant efforts in the surveillance and regulation of online content that conflict with the cultural values of the state.

He warned that offenders who use digital platforms in promoting immorality shall be dealt with accordingly.

Kilina’s case is one of many conducted by the Kano State Censorship Board in its crackdown on online creators.

Several TikTok stars have been prosecuted for similar offenses in the last few months. Some have been convicted, with fines and jail terms.