In a digital age where social media serves as a primary source of news, conversation, and connection, any disruption can send shockwaves across the globe. That’s exactly what happened over the past 48 hours as X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, suffered a major outage that left millions of users unable to access timelines, send messages, or even log in.
The incident, which began late on May 23, 2025, and continued into the following day, has raised fresh concerns about the reliability and stability of one of the world’s most influential social networks.
The Scope of the Outage
The disruption was first reported around 4 PM IST, with a sharp spike in complaints peaking between 7 PM and midnight. Downdetector, a service that tracks real-time outages, recorded thousands of reports from users worldwide. At the height of the incident, more than 6,000 users globally flagged issues, with the majority (about 77%) related to the X app itself, while 15% stemmed from the website and 8% from server connection problems.
The outage was not limited to a single region. While the United States, Canada, Peru, and Germany were among the hardest hit, users in India also reported significant disruptions, though the impact there was relatively milder. In India, Downdetector logged 266 complaints at its peak, which gradually declined as services began to recover by the following morning.
What Went Wrong?
X’s official engineering account acknowledged the issue, stating, “We are experiencing a data center outage and the team is actively working to remediate the issue”. The message, posted hours after the first reports surfaced, confirmed that the problem originated from a data center failure. Wired also reported that a fire had broken out at an X-leased data center near Portland, Oregon, though it remains unclear if this incident was directly responsible for the widespread outage.
The company’s developer platform listed the X API v2 as having “degraded performance,” and users experienced a range of problems, including:
- Inability to load posts or timelines
- App crashes and unresponsive interfaces
- Login failures
- Disappearing direct messages
These symptoms are consistent with server overloads or technical glitches, issues that have become more frequent since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022 and subsequent staff reductions.
User Reactions and Frustrations
As expected, the outage quickly became a trending topic—ironically, on X itself for those who could access it, and on rival platforms for those who could not. Users voiced their frustration, confusion, and, in some cases, humor about the disruption. Comments ranged from “Where do we even go when Twitter is down?” to more pointed criticisms about the platform’s technical management and recent layoffs.
Some users attempted basic troubleshooting, such as clearing browser cache, restarting routers, or switching devices, but these measures offered little relief during the peak of the outage. The lack of timely communication from X’s corporate team only added to the sense of uncertainty.
Not the First, Nor the Last?
This latest incident marks the third major outage for X since September 2024, raising questions about the platform’s infrastructure and long-term reliability. The March 2025 outage was blamed by Musk on an alleged cyberattack, though no evidence was provided. This time, the company has pointed to a data center failure but has yet to offer a detailed explanation or timeline for a permanent fix.
The frequency of such outages has become a point of concern for both users and advertisers, especially as X continues to position itself as a hub for real-time news and global conversation. With over 600 million monthly active users, even a brief disruption can have ripple effects across media, business, and politics.
What Can Users Do?
While X has not provided a comprehensive solution, some users have reported temporary improvements by:
Clearing browser cache and cookies (Ctrl + F5)
Restarting their modem or router
Trying to access the platform via different devices or browsers
However, these are stopgap measures, and the responsibility for a lasting fix lies squarely with X’s engineering and infrastructure teams.
Looking Ahead
As of this morning, most services appear to have returned to normal, with complaint levels dropping significantly after 5 AM and stabilizing by 11 AM IST. Still, the incident underscores the fragility of even the largest online platforms and highlights the importance of robust infrastructure and transparent communication.
For now, users are back online, but the episode has left many wondering: How reliable is X in its current form, and what steps will the company take to prevent future outages? With the platform’s role in global discourse only growing, the world will be watching closely for answers—and for the next tweet.
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