Social media platform X experienced a major global outage on Friday, affecting millions of users across multiple regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. According to internet monitoring service NetBlocks, the disruption was international in scope and not linked to any country-level internet restrictions or filtering. Users were unable to access the platform, leaving many unable to post, message, or view content. The outage comes shortly after similar service disruptions earlier this week.
Reports of problems began to increase significantly around 8pm local time, as tracking website Downdetector recorded a surge in user complaints. In the United States alone, over 41,000 issues were reported by 10:35am ET, while the UK saw approximately 8,000 incidents and India recorded more than 2,400 reports. Downdetector compiles data by collecting user-submitted status reports from multiple sources, providing an overview of service interruptions on a global scale.
Cloudflare, the web infrastructure company, provided updates during the outage, stating that the issue was linked to Magic Network Monitoring Data. The company explained that customers could experience blank or missing data on dashboards due to the problem. Cloudflare confirmed that mitigation efforts were underway and that it was actively working to resolve the disruption. Earlier, at 8pm, the company noted that scheduled maintenance was in progress and that traffic from affected locations may have been rerouted, which could lead to minor latency for end-users.
No official statement has been released by X regarding the cause or the expected timeline for a full resolution. The lack of communication left users relying on third-party monitoring services to understand the scope of the problem. The incident highlights the challenges global platforms face in maintaining consistent service across multiple regions, particularly when technical issues affect core network monitoring and routing systems.
Previous outages earlier this week also impacted X’s global user base, with thousands of complaints reported through Downdetector. Analysts note that service disruptions on social media platforms can have widespread implications, affecting both personal communication and professional use, as many businesses rely on the platform for marketing, customer engagement, and real-time updates. The outage underscored the reliance of millions of users on a single digital platform for connectivity and communication.
As of the latest updates, Cloudflare continues to monitor the situation and implement corrective measures. Users have been advised to check the company’s status pages and third-party monitoring tools to track the restoration of services. While the outage affected millions worldwide, most technical teams are focusing on ensuring stability and preventing similar disruptions in the future.
The global nature of the outage serves as a reminder of the critical role social media platforms play in connecting people and the importance of robust infrastructure to maintain uninterrupted access.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.