Musk criticised that nearly a third of his posts on X spreads false information
Over five days, Musk shared 171 posts and reposts, many containing false or misleading information about illegal immigration, election fraud, and attacks on Democratic candidates.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), recently shared a debunked rumour about a bomb threat near a New York rally where former US President Donald J. Trump was scheduled to speak. Despite the inaccuracy, Musk amplified the rumour to his nearly 200 million followers. Over five days, a New York Times analysis revealed that nearly a third of Musk’s 171 posts on X contained misleading or false information.
Experts monitoring misinformation have long been concerned about the impact of Musk’s ownership of X on the spread of false information. Since buying the platform in 2022, Musk has elevated unfounded claims and embraced a more conservative political stance, including endorsing Trump’s presidential campaign in July. The analysis showed that Musk’s posts, often politically motivated, were seen more than 800 million times, underscoring his influential role as the platform’s most-followed account.
Musk’s misleading posts included claims that US Democrats wanted to make memes ‘illegal’ and falsely asserted that they aimed to ‘open the border’ to gain votes from illegal immigrants.
Why does it matter?
Experts worry that Musk, since acquiring X in 2022, has increasingly used his influential position to spread misinformation, particularly in support of conservative politics, as well as undermine credible sources. The significant reach and influence of Musk’s account highlight the dangers of high-profile figures spreading misinformation, raising concerns about public discourse and democratic processes.