X Outages
In March 2025, X—the social media platform once known as Twitter—faced a series of disruptive outages that left thousands of users unable to access the site. These interruptions, occurring on multiple days, frustrated users and sparked widespread speculation about the cause. While Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, pointed to a “massive cyberattack” as the culprit, cybersecurity experts have raised doubts, leaving many to wonder whether the issues stemmed from a deliberate attack or internal technical problems.
A Timeline of Disruptions
The first significant outage struck on March 10, 2025, affecting both the mobile app and web versions of X. According to DownDetector, a site that monitors tech outages, over 27,000 users reported issues by 11:30 a.m. ET. The problems persisted throughout the day, with additional spikes in outage reports later in the afternoon. Just weeks later, on March 30, 2025, X experienced another outage, with more than 7,700 users reporting access issues shortly before 10:00 a.m. EST.
These disruptions were not isolated incidents. Earlier on March 10, a brief outage had already impacted users around 5:30 a.m. ET, with over 22,000 reports flooding in before the platform temporarily recovered. However, the issues resurfaced, leading to a day of intermittent access for many.
Elon Musk’s Cyberattack Claim
In response to the outages, Elon Musk took to X to explain the situation. He described the disruptions as the result of a “massive cyberattack” carried out with “a lot of resources.” Musk further speculated that the attack could have been orchestrated by a “large, coordinated group and/or a country,” later suggesting that the attack may have originated from Ukraine. Despite these bold claims, Musk provided no concrete evidence to support his assertions, leaving room for skepticism.
Experts Question the Cause
Cybersecurity specialists have cast doubt on Musk’s explanation. Many pointed out that denial-of-service (DoS) attacks—the type Musk appeared to reference—can often be executed by small groups or even individuals, without the need for state-level resources. Some experts questioned whether the outages were truly the result of a cyberattack or if they might have been caused by internal technical issues. The lack of transparency from X has only fueled further speculation, with no independent verification of Musk’s claims.
Impact on Users and Real-Time News
The timing of the outages proved particularly inconvenient for users relying on X for real-time updates. On March 10, 2025, the NFL’s free agency period began, a major event for sports fans and journalists who depend on the platform for breaking news. With X down, many were forced to turn to alternative sources, underscoring the platform’s critical role in disseminating live information. The repeated outages also raised broader concerns about X’s reliability, especially as users increasingly question the platform’s stability under Musk’s ownership.
What’s Next for X?
As of now, X appears to be functioning normally, but the root cause of the outages remains unclear. While Musk’s cyberattack theory has garnered attention, it has yet to be substantiated. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in maintaining uptime and security in an era of complex digital threats. For users, the outages serve as a reminder to stay prepared for potential disruptions and to have backup plans for accessing critical information.
