What to X-pect from Elon Musk in 2025

Dec 27, 2024

The transformation of X under Elon Musk's ownership is examined, highlighting its shift from a digital town square to a platform favoring extreme political views. The rise of influential users like Inevitable West showcases new dynamics in media accountability. There's a deep dive into the challenges posed by misinformation and the role of algorithms in shaping discourse. The discussion also touches on Musk's potential strategies for 2025 and significant historical figures who embodied bravery, illustrating the ongoing relevance of courageous actions.

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ANECDOTE

Inevitable West's Rise

The Inevitable West X account gained prominence quickly after the US election, posting news-style updates.
Despite having no prior following, it now reaches millions weekly, demonstrating X's changing landscape.

INSIGHT

X's Evolving Landscape

Elon Musk's changes to X, like paid verification and monetization, incentivize certain content.
This has led to the rise of accounts like Inevitable West, which prioritize engagement over truth.

INSIGHT

The Megaphone Effect

While Musk aimed to create a digital town square, X's algorithms now amplify certain voices.
This results in some opinions reaching millions, disproportionately influencing online discourse.

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Over the course of 2024, X has changed from what Elon Musk once described as a “digital town square,” to a platform that seems to reward users with more extreme political views. Marianna focuses on individual X users who have shot to prominence, and are emblematic of the changes and their consequences. What makes some X users particularly successful, why does it matter, and what are the implications for other platforms? We also look at Elon Musk’s role, and what his game plan could be in 2025 with X.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent

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This episode was made by Catherine Fusillo and Purvee Pattni. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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