In a move that has continued to perplex his fans, pop sensation Justin Bieber recently altered his social media presence by changing his long-standing Instagram handle from @justinbieber to the whimsical @lilbieber. This change, which took place on Thursday, has left many admirers scratching their heads as they try to decipher his intentions.

Bieber, who is now 31 years old, has used the @justinbieber handle for years, with a brief, playful stint in 2014 when he switched to @bizzle. However, this latest alteration seems to indicate a shift in his social media persona, though the singer did not provide any context for the change.

The enigmatic pop star hinted at the name change two days prior when he shared a series of heartfelt black-and-white photos of himself cuddling with his and Hailey Bieber’s 10-month-old son, Jack. Accompanying the touching images, Bieber cheekily captioned the post with the phrase “lil bieber” alongside a padlock emoji, which many interpreted as a playful nod to his new Instagram identity.

Fans have taken to social media to speculate about the implications of this change. Some users humorously suggested that it might mean Bieber believes he is venturing into the rap scene. One user on X quipped, “Bro thinks he’s a rapper,” while others speculated about a potential new mixtape on the horizon, hinting at a musical evolution for the artist.

Interestingly, the handle change comes amidst a backdrop of increasing speculation about Bieber’s relationship with his wife, model Hailey Baldwin. The couple has faced breakup rumors in recent months, which have been fueled by Bieber’s cryptic and sometimes poignant social media posts. Despite these rumors, Hailey expressed in a recent Vogue interview that their bond remains strong.

Bieber has also made headlines for sharing his thoughts on “transactional” relationships and the challenges of maintaining a healthy marriage, which he has expressed through various posts on Instagram. In a particularly notable recent exchange with the paparazzi, Bieber expressed his dedication to his family by stating, “I love my wife, I love my family, and you provoke me, and it’s sad.”

On Thursday alone, Justin shared 12 different posts on his Instagram account, one of which included an adorable photo of Jack sitting in a cardboard box filled with colorful balls. Fans couldn’t help but draw parallels to Britney Spears, who recently adopted a similar nickname on social media. One user even suggested that Bieber is entering his “Xila Maria River Red era,” a light-hearted reference to the pop star’s playful moniker.

As of now, Bieber’s representative has not responded to inquiries regarding the sudden name change. Considering the singer’s history with his online presence, fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on his social media activity in the coming days.