X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats.

X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats.

      From forums to feeds and chats

      Nikita Bier / X

      X is undergoing one of its largest structural transformations in years, and the change is quite evident. A fundamental feature is being discontinued, but in its place, the platform is intensifying its focus on AI-enhanced feeds and real-time chats.

      Why is X discontinuing Communities?

      X has announced the closure of its Communities feature, which was initially introduced to allow users to connect over shared interests, akin to forums or subreddits. The rationale is straightforward: low engagement and high upkeep.

      Today we’re revealing two updates regarding community organization on X: 1. XChat now offers joinable links for group chats. You can create a public link and share it directly to your Timeline. With support for 350 members per chat (and increasing), Groupchat Links represent the quickest way to engage... pic.twitter.com/GNcRB99Opc— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) April 22, 2026

      Despite the concept sounding appealing, Communities were utilized by fewer than 0.4% of users, and they had become a hub for spam, scams, and moderation challenges.

      In essence, it was a feature requiring substantial effort without providing adequate value. Thus, X is letting it go.

      What is replacing Communities on X?

      Rather than Communities, X is redirecting that experience into two distinct paths: AI-driven custom timelines and enhanced group chats.

      Ladies and gentlemen, today we’re unveiling one of our major updates to 𝕏Introducing Custom Timelines. This feature permits you to pin a specific topic to your home tab. Supporting over 75 topics, you can immerse yourself in your preferred niche on X. It’s powered by Grok’s… pic.twitter.com/9jkIEXvubj— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) April 21, 2026

      On one hand, there are Custom Timelines, allowing users to pin topic-oriented feeds directly on their home screen. These feeds are powered by Grok, X's AI system, which actively analyzes posts and categorizes them rather than relying solely on hashtags or keywords.

      Unsplash

      On the other hand, X is heavily investing in group chats through XChat. These chats now offer joinable public links, facilitating instant connections among participants. Group sizes are also set to expand, with limits expected to increase well beyond the current few hundred users.

      What does this transition imply for users?

      This change is less about eliminating Communities and more about redefining them. Instead of static groups, users will engage with topics through AI-powered feeds or participate in real-time discussions via group chats, moving away from slower, forum-like interactions.

      It also indicates a broader strategic shift. X is placing its bets on AI and messaging as the future, streamlining the user experience while progressing toward quicker, more dynamic forms of connection.

X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats. X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats. X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats. X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats. X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats. X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats.

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X is shutting down communities. However, you now have the option for custom timelines and group chats.

X is shutting down its Communities feature and substituting it with AI-enhanced custom timelines and larger group chats, redirecting its emphasis towards real-time and tailored interactions.