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What Next | Daily News and Analysis

TBD | Elon Musk’s Bully Pulpit

Aug 16, 2024
Nitish Pahwa, an associate writer for Slate specializing in business and tech, joins to unpack the tumultuous shifts at X, formerly Twitter, since Elon Musk's takeover. He explores how Musk's governance has reduced content moderation, leading to increased hate speech and advertiser fallout. The conversation dives into Musk's motivations—using the platform as a personal soapbox rather than a public forum. Pahwa also discusses the implications for political discourse as the 2024 election approaches, raising concerns about societal polarization.
28:25

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Elon Musk’s leadership of X has led to relaxed content moderation, resulting in a surge of extremist content and advertiser concern.
  • Musk's lawsuit against a brand safety non-profit reveals a strategy that prioritizes his political agenda over platform accountability and stability.

Deep dives

Elon Musk's Control and Content Moderation Issues on X

Elon Musk's ownership of X has led to significant changes in content moderation practices on the platform, with many policies being relaxed or eliminated. This shift has resulted in an increase in hate speech and extremist content, causing concern among advertisers and advocacy groups. Previously banned accounts have been reinstated, allowing unhealthy rhetoric to proliferate, which has created an environment where extremist views can thrive. Critics argue that Musk’s approach prioritizes his personal ideology over the safety and reputation of the platform, further alienating advertisers.

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