Musk confirmed that posts containing links are deprioritized, renewing criticism that the platform is restricting access to external sources of information.

Summary

Elon Musk confirmed that X (formerly Twitter) deprioritizes posts containing links, encouraging users to post links in replies instead.

This practice, aimed at keeping users on the platform, has drawn criticism for restricting access to external information and harming media outlets’ traffic.

Past reports revealed X also delayed links to rival platforms and news outlets, prompting concerns about press freedom and revenue impacts.

The Guardian recently left X, labeling it “toxic,” while other media and free speech advocates accuse the platform of enabling disinformation and controlling narratives.

  • ctkatz
    9·
    1 month ago

    so the genius free speech absolutist has rigged his platform so that if journos, news orgs, and content creators post links outside of his platform those posts get buried UNLESS that content is posted on his platform.

    in other words elon wants to own the work produced by others.

    and then he wonders why people are fleeing his nazi echo chamber in droves.

    • octopus_inkEnglish
      7·
      1 month ago

      and then he wonders why people are fleeing his nazi echo chamber in droves.

      I skipped through the current episode of a podcast I used to like until I realized they were closeted magas just today to see if they’d come to their senses. Nope, it seems they will be dead to me forever.

      However, I had to laugh that one thing I heard them lamenting was that since all the “liberal” people have gone to Bluesky “to cry”, the only people left for conservatives to argue with on X is each other. (And apparently they are doing so quite a lot over Trump’s cabinet choices.)