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.
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.
The Impact of Musk's Actions on Brand Safety
Musk's response to advertisers' concerns over the platform's deteriorating content quality has been to shift blame rather than address the issues directly. The filing of a lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media highlights his strategy of targeting organizations that advocate for brand safety as potential threats. This lawsuit marks a drastic move from Musk, who claims that criticism of the platform equates to censorship, disregarding the legitimate concerns regarding the content shared on X. As a result, many brand advocates are distancing themselves, leading to significant financial losses for the platform.
Musk's Influence Beyond X and Its Global Repercussions
Musk's influence extends beyond social media, as he controls critical technologies like SpaceX and Starlink, raising concerns about accountability in a digital age. His actions on X have implications for global security and misinformation dissemination, especially during conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. The lack of effective regulatory responses to his influence poses risks, as governments struggle to rein in his power amid rising tensions fueled by disinformation. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, the focus on Musk's authority and its consequences becomes increasingly vital, highlighting the intersection of technology, media, and power.
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter - now X - in 2022, he’s increasingly used it to push his conservative views. A suit against a non-profit brand safety group of advertisers and an exclusive interview with former President Trump show that Elon was never interested in keeping Twitter as a town square, but rather, a soapbox for him to push his political agenda.
Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.
Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.