Twitter is again — effectively, form of. A gaggle of parents led by Stephen Coates, the previous authorized counsel for the unique Twitter, have simply launched a brand new model of the social media platform. It is operating proper now below the URL Twitter.now.
This has been brewing for some time now, due to a startup referred to as Operation Bluebird. The brand new Twitter is usually blue, like the unique, and contains a chicken because the official brand. This chicken is barely completely different from the previous one, because it appears to have some extra plumage.
The launch occurred as a decide continues to weigh a preliminary injunction requested by Elon Musk and X as a part of an ongoing trademark lawsuit. “We’ve waited months and months to launch, and we’re not going to attend anymore,” Coates informed Ars Technica.
Operation Bluebird has repeatedly acknowledged that this challenge is authorized as a result of Musk rapidly modified the title and brand of Twitter to X upon buying it again in 2022. They are saying that the Twitter id and IP had been deserted, thus permitting one thing like the brand new Twitter to exist. Musk sued the group by way of a federal decide in Delaware, a state that is identified for prioritizing massive enterprise.
This case continues to be working its manner by means of the court docket, however District Courtroom Decide Colm Connolly appeared to counsel that it could finally finish in Operation Bluebird’s favor. He famous in a preliminary ruling again in April that he has not “discovered that X adduced credible proof of use of ‘tweet’ or the chicken brand.”
Coates is working because the authorized counsel for the brand new entity, the identical function he had at Twitter. He lately acknowledged that the decide’s preliminary ruling gave them the go-ahead. “It is our opinion that X has deserted its rights on the Twitter and tweet emblems,” he mentioned.
The brand new website clearly distances itself from X, stating in its branding that it is “not affiliated with X Corp.” Coates seconded this sentiment in a LinkedIn put up, saying that “the general public sq. is open once more, and undoubtedly not affiliated with X in any manner. By any means.”
It is also seeking to distance itself from all trendy social media apps. “Social media turned terribly highly effective, however someplace alongside the way in which the individuals utilizing it misplaced management,” a mission assertion reads. “Algorithms discovered to reward outrage. Bots discovered to fabricate consensus. Belief turned more durable to earn and simpler to faux. We expect there’s a greater mannequin.”
To that finish, there’s an AI device in place referred to as Vera, which is brief for “veracity engine for real-time evaluation.” It robotically reality checks all posts so individuals know in the event that they’re getting upset over one thing utterly made up. Nonetheless, the Vera mannequin continues to be in its early phases and has many kinks to work out.
So the individuals launching a brand new Twitter below the title Twitter launched their factor so I signed up. Seems they’ve an AI scanning tweets for “fact” and it presently has no concept what it is doing. Posted one thing innocuous about Star Wars Zero Firm and it primarily blocked it from all feeds.
— Jeff Gerstmann (@jeffgerstmann.com) 2026-08-27T03:09:21.538Z
Now for the unhealthy information. The newly-launched Twitter prices cash to make use of, at the least for now. It is a one-time cost of $20 to get began as a “founder.” That is half the price of a single month of X Premium+, for no matter that is price.
The platform says it is charging to “maintain bots out and keep unbiased” as a “paid door proves there’s an actual particular person behind the account.” It did additionally say that it could “open to extra individuals later.” We do not know if this implies if there is a free model coming down the pike.
