Slate News
What Next TBD: Elon Musk’s Bully Pulpit
Aug 16, 2024
In this conversation with Nitish Pahwa, an associate writer for business and tech at Slate, the focus turns to Elon Musk’s controversial ownership of X (formerly Twitter). They discuss how Musk has transformed the platform into a soapbox for his political agenda, sidelining the idea of a public town square. Topics include Musk's backlash against advertisers, the rise of hate speech, and the platform’s declining relevance. As the 2024 elections approach, the implications for political discourse and social media dynamics are provocative and timely.
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Quick takeaways
- Elon Musk's takeover of X has led to decreased content moderation and increased hate speech, resulting in significant ad revenue losses for the platform.
- Musk's confrontational lawsuit against a brand safety group illustrates his resistance to accountability and attempts to redefine free speech in a polarizing manner.
Deep dives
The Shifts in Content Moderation under Musk
Since Elon Musk took over X, formerly known as Twitter, there has been a significant decline in content moderation, leading to an increase in hate speech and extremist content on the platform. Advertisers have reacted negatively, with X reportedly losing around $2.5 billion in ad sales due to concerns over the platform's reputation. Musk's approach has involved blaming advertisers for trying to enforce censorship rather than addressing the rising hate speech, showcasing a dismissal of accountability for the platform's culture. This shift has allowed previously banned accounts to reemerge and thrive, contributing to a concerning landscape where harmful ideologies find a foothold.
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