Short answer
X closed Communities in May 2026 after saying fewer than 0.4% of users used them while they generated about 80% of spam and scam reports; X directed admins to move members into group chats in XChat, which gained joinable links and larger member limits.
Key takeaways
- Communities launched in 2021 as topic groups with their own timelines.
- X announced the shutdown in April 2026; the closing date was May 6, with migration extended to the end of May.
- Group chats and Custom Timelines took over parts of what Communities did.
Communities were Twitter's attempt at Facebook-style groups: spaces where people could post about a topic to others who cared, without spamming their own followers. In April 2026, X announced it was closing them.
What were Communities?
Topic groups with their own timeline, moderators and rules, launched in 2021.
Anyone could join a public Community; posts went to members (and, later, optionally to everyone). Admins and moderators set rules and removed posts. They were popular with niche hobbies, fan groups, crypto projects and local groups.
When did they close?
X announced the shutdown on April 23, 2026; Communities closed on May 6, with the migration deadline extended to May 30.
Why did X shut them down?
Low use and heavy abuse, according to X.
X's head of product, Nikita Bier, said Communities were used by fewer than 0.4% of users but were linked to around 80% of spam reports, financial scams and malware on the platform. He also said many of the most active communities mostly drove traffic elsewhere.
What replaced them?
XChat group chats for conversation, and Custom Timelines for topic feeds.
- Group chats gained public joinable links that can be shared and pinned on the timeline, with member limits reported between 350 and 500 and a goal of about 1,000. See group chats on X.
- Custom Timelines, launched the same week for Premium users, let people pin Grok-curated topic feeds. See following topics.
What does this mean for community builders?
Run the community in a group chat or off X, and use X for public posts that bring people in.
Many former admins moved to group chats, Discord, newsletters or other networks. Communities join a long list of retired Twitter features, alongside Circle, Fleets and Moments.
Questions people ask
Can I still see old Communities posts?
Posts that were shared only to a Community closed with it. Posts that were also visible publicly remain on members' profiles.
Where did Communities move?
X pointed admins to XChat group chats, which gained public join links and member limits of several hundred, with plans for about 1,000.
Why did X close Communities?
X's head of product said Communities were used by under 0.4% of users but tied to about 80% of spam reports, financial scams and malware.