Part of the reason for X being the new name of Twitter was because its current owner, Elon Musk, wants it to be the “everything app”. As part of this, company CEO Linda Yaccarino mentioned back in August that the platform will be getting video calls at some point. That time is now, from the looks of it, as some users have started seeing the option appear while on the platform.
As spotted by The Verge, a number of users have been prompted by the addition of the feature. Some of the outlet’s staffers have also gotten the notification, and has shared what the feature’s settings screen looks like in a report.
From it, we can see that there are additional options to the feature so that you don’t just open the floodgates for bots or scammers to pester you. Naturally, there is an option to just let verified users call you for absolutely no reason beyond having paid for a blue tick. But more realistic options do exist, such as allowing only calls from people you follow, or those in your address book.
BREAKING: X Video Calls and Audio Calls are here!
Here is how you can start calling people on X if they want you to.
Step 1) Update App
Steo 2) Go to Settings > Privacy & Safety > Direct Messages > Enable Audio & Video Calling.
Step 3) Click to DM someone. In the upper… pic.twitter.com/ebbR3x1J4a
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 25, 2023
That being said, toggling either of these allows people in said categories to make both voice and video calls. It doesn’t look like you can make it so that only some groups get access to video calls while everyone else is locked behind audio only, for example.
ready for it…?
— X (@X) October 25, 2023
The report also mentions that the official X account on the platform previously called Twitter teased the coming of the feature with a cryptic “ready for it…?” post before the option started appearing for some. A help page notes that this is currently only available on iOS, and will soon be available on Android. It is also turned on by default, and is a Premium only feature.
(Source: The Verge, X [1], [2], Brian Krassenstein)
