Did a Cloudflare Outage Disrupt X and Other Digital Platforms Globally, Including India?
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Synopsis
A global outage affecting X and numerous digital platforms has left thousands of users frustrated. Cloudflare, the backbone of these services, acknowledged the issue but did not provide a timeline for resolution. This incident raises questions about the reliability of internet infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Cloudflare outages can significantly disrupt multiple digital platforms.
- Over 10,000 users reported issues, highlighting the scale of the disruption.
- Users faced diverse problems, including login failures and internal server errors.
- Cloudflare is investigating but hasn't shared a cause or estimated fix time.
- This incident underscores the vulnerabilities of relying on a single infrastructure provider.
New Delhi, Nov 18 (NationPress) - On Tuesday, thousands of users of X, the microblogging platform owned by Elon Musk, experienced significant service interruptions both in India and worldwide. This disruption also affected numerous other websites that depend on Cloudflare’s internet infrastructure to remain operational.
At approximately 5:20 PM, more than 10,000 users reported issues, underlining the widespread nature of the outage, as detailed by Down Detector, a platform that tracks downtime across various services. Users encountered difficulties with their feed, website access, login, and server connection issues, which constituted the majority of reported problems.
Cloudflare acknowledged the situation in its initial communication, stating it was “aware of, and investigating an issue which potentially impacts multiple customers.” However, no specific cause or timing for a resolution was provided.
While some pages managed to load upon refreshing, a considerable number of users continued to face an “internal server error on Cloudflare’s network,” prompting them to try again later.
The outage tracking site, Down Detector, also faced loading issues due to its reliance on Cloudflare.
Earlier this year in May, the platform had experienced another global outage, including in India, where users were unable to load new posts or log in. According to Downdetector, thousands reported difficulties accessing X's pages, as well as issues with the app and login interface.
During that incident, 41 percent of users reported login failures, with the same percentage indicating problems with the X app and 18 percent encountering issues with the website. The company had yet to disclose the cause of that outage, which marked the second incident within a 24-hour span.
Many users in India attempted to access the site but were unsuccessful. As per Downdetector, over 5,000 users globally reported difficulties with the microblogging service.
Point of View
It's essential to recognize the impact of such outages on digital communication and social interaction. The incident demonstrates the vulnerabilities inherent in our reliance on digital infrastructure, and the need for robust backup systems to ensure continuity of service.
NationPress
18/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Cloudflare outage?
The exact cause of the Cloudflare outage has not been disclosed by the company at this time.
How many users were affected by the outage?
Over 10,000 users reported issues during the outage, with significant impacts noted on X and other websites relying on Cloudflare.
Is this the first outage for X?
No, X experienced a similar global outage earlier in May, affecting users' ability to access posts and log in.
What issues did users face during the outage?
Users encountered problems with their feed, website access, logins, and server connections.
Will Cloudflare provide updates on the situation?
Cloudflare has stated it is investigating the issue but has not provided a specific timeline for resolution.
