Guides by platform
Twitter guides
How Twitter works, how it earns, what it takes to launch a platform like it, and how it compares.
The guides
How Does Twitter Make Money? Ads, Data and Subscriptions
Twitter, now X, earns from advertising shown in the timeline, from paid X Premium subscriptions, and from selling access to its developer API. X's own Premium page lists Basic, Premium and Premium+ tiers, with fewer ads on Premium and an ad-free experience on most of X on Premium+. It also runs creator programs that pay out from Premium users' engagement.
12 min read TwitterAlternatives and apps likeMastodon vs Bluesky vs a Private Network: Which Model Fits
Mastodon vs Bluesky vs a private network: who controls identity, moderation and money in each, with a decision table for an operator choosing a model.
12 min read TwitterSocial networks and communitiesHow to Start a Microblogging Platform: A Launch Checklist
How to start a microblogging platform: define the audience, pick a minimum feature set, choose a timeline, plan moderation and seeding, then run a gate list.
12 min read TwitterHow it worksHow the Twitter Algorithm Works: Timeline Ranking Explained
How does the Twitter algorithm work? The stages X's open-sourced code documents, which parts are general practice, and how to design your own timeline.
12 min read TwitterContent moderationCommunity Notes Explained: Crowd Moderation for a Feed
Community notes how it works: contributors, ratings, the bridging ranking and note statuses, plus how a smaller network could run crowd context notes.
12 min read