Posts are a performance; a Space is a conversation. Spaces are X's live audio rooms, where a host talks with guests in real time while an audience listens in. They are used for everything from breaking-news debriefs and sports watch-alongs to book clubs, town halls, and late-night comedy. If you have only ever listened, hosting one is easier than you think.
Joining as a listener
Spaces are public. When someone you follow hosts or speaks in one, it appears at the top of your timeline, and anyone can join through a shared link — in a post, a DM, or anywhere else — whether or not they follow the host. Listening asks nothing of you: drop in, stay for two minutes or two hours, react with an emoji if you like, and leave whenever. On the web you can listen in a browser; the mobile apps are where the full experience lives.
Want more than a seat? Listeners can request the microphone. The host decides who gets it, and approved speakers can unmute and join the conversation. Hosts can also set a Space so only certain people — such as accounts they follow, or invited speakers only — can talk.
Who can host, and how
There is no follower threshold and no verification requirement to host. Any account can start a Space from the X app on iOS or Android: long-press the compose button and tap the Spaces icon, or start from your profile picture menu. Give the Space a name, add topics if you like, and go live immediately — or use Schedule for later to set a date and time, which gives you a link you can promote in advance.
A Space holds up to 13 people on the microphone at once: the host, up to two co-hosts, and the remaining seats for speakers. Co-hosts are worth choosing carefully — they can help invite speakers, manage requests, and keep things moving if you need to step away. As host, you can invite people to speak, approve or decline mic requests, mute or remove speakers, and end the Space when it is done.
Getting more from the room
A few habits separate lively Spaces from empty ones. Schedule ahead and post about it more than once, so listeners can plan. Start with a co-host or a confirmed speaker — arriving to actual conversation keeps early listeners from drifting away. Pin a relevant post inside the Space to give the room a shared reference point. And decide before you start whether to record: hosts can record a Space and share the replay afterwards, which turns one live hour into an asset that keeps working.
Whether you are there to listen, to ask one good question, or to run the room yourself, Spaces are the most human corner of X. The barrier to entry is a phone and something to talk about.