Elon Musk's X loses users, spreads misinformation

X, the app formerly known as Twitter, has had an increase in misleading information following Elon Musk’s purchase of the app on October 28th of 2022. He heightened this amount by changing the requirements necessary to be considered a reliable source.

Having a blue checkmark by a user's name used to indicate if an account was reliable, but now the only requirement is paying a fee of eight dollars a month. According to Forbes, a pharmaceutical company by the name of Eli Lilly had to clarify free insulin was not being offered because a fake X account impersonated the brand and stated that it was. The fake account posted saying “we are excited to announce insulin is free now.”

When Musk first bought the app, he stated in a TED interview that he aimed to make Twitter a “platform for free speech around the globe.” One of his first actions as owner was removing bans made on thousands of accounts. The QAnon conspiracy theory was promoted by various of these accounts before they were banned. Some of these accounts also partook in spreading false information about the 2020 presidential election, as well as Covid. Another one of his early actions according to The Guardian was firing around 50% of the 7,500 member staff.

Following the Israel and Gaza war, Musk urged users of X to stay informed of the current happenings in the war. After saying this he suggested two accounts to find information from, those two accounts being commonly known for spreading misinformation. As well as this, Musk threatened suspension of accounts using the terms “decolonization” or “from the river to the sea,” common terms used by activists in support of Palestine. He stated that the terms “imply genocide.” Musk was also shown supporting a post on X stating that Jewish communities push “hatred against whites.”

With all the changes the app is undergoing, the user rate has dropped by 15% worldwide and 18% in the U.S.