X announced changes to how users organize around shared interests on the platform.
Nikita Bier, head of product at X, posted that the company is introducing joinable links for group chats in XChat, which is X's encrypted messaging system, available both within the main app and as a standalone application. These allow public links to be shared directly in the timeline for easier access.
XChat supports direct messages, voice and video calls, media sharing, and group conversations with end-to-end encryption. And these new joinable links turn these group chats into a more discoverable entry point, similar to invite links in apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.
Compared to major messaging apps, XChat emphasizes integration with the broader X ecosystem and claims strong privacy features, though group sizes remain more limited than the massive servers possible on Discord or the large broadcast channels on Telegram. Initial limits stood at 350 members per group chat, with plans to raise them to 500 soon and aim for 1,000 in the following weeks.
At the same time, X will deprecate its Communities feature on May 6 due to declining usage, later extended to May 30 following user feedback.
Admins are encouraged to create group chat links and pin them within their Communities during the transition period to help members migrate.
Today we're announcing two product changes for organizing communities on X:
1. XChat now supports joinable links for groupchats. Create a public link & share direct to Timeline. With support for 350 members per chat (and growing), Groupchat Links are the fastest way to bring… pic.twitter.com/GNcRB99Opc— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) April 22, 2026
X Communities functioned as dedicated, topic-based spaces where members could post and engage in discussions visible primarily within the group, while still allowing some broader visibility.
They operated more like asynchronous forums, with moderation tools, rules, and feeds tailored to specific interests, ranging from fan groups and esports to niche hobbies. Many large Communities had grown to tens or hundreds of thousands of members, fostering ongoing conversations that did not require real-time participation.
The decision has drawn significant pushback from creators and users, particularly those managing large fan bases or interest groups.
We've heard you.
To give sufficient time to migrate: You'll have until May 30th to transition to XChat.
We'll also increase groupchat limits to 500 members tomorrow and aim to reach 1000 in the next couple weeks. This should cover all but a handful of communities on X.— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) April 23, 2026
Streamers like iShowSpeed, with Communities exceeding 150,000 members, along with others in gaming, esports, and regional audiences, argued that real-time group chats cannot replicate the scale or forum-like nature of Communities.
Critics noted that asynchronous browsing and selective engagement would be lost, potentially fragmenting established groups and reducing overall activity on X. Some expressed concerns about member displacement or the need to split communities into multiple smaller chats.
In response, X has adjusted timelines and capacities while directing focus toward other tools like Custom Timelines for niche content discovery.
The shift reflects an effort to streamline features on the platform, prioritizing simpler, more integrated ways for people to connect.