Slate News ICYMI | Twitter Is Dead (Really, We Mean It)
Jan 3, 2026
Charlie Warzel, staff writer at The Atlantic and host of Galaxy Brain, dives deep into the disintegration of Twitter, now X, following Elon Musk's takeover. He discusses the burdens of new features like location labels that expose inauthentic accounts and the chaos that has ensued. Warzel analyzes the platform's shift towards sensationalism and extremism while detailing its fall from grace. Despite the turmoil, niche communities persist and redefine engagement, leaving us pondering: is this the end or simply a slow decay for the platform?
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Internet Wholesome Moment
- Charlie's first internet memory was watching a slow-loading clip of the I Have a Dream speech on AOL.
- He recalls that moment as a wholesome gateway into the web despite later declines.
Location Feature Exposed Inauthentic Accounts
- The location feature revealed many high-profile accounts were based outside the U.S., exposing widespread inauthenticity.
- Charlie Warzel argues this amplified culture-war manipulation and undercut platform trust.
Paid Verification Undermined Trust
- Elon Musk shifted verification to a paid model, enabling scammers to buy verification and algorithmic priority.
- Charlie says this change turned verification from a trust signal into a tool for manipulation.