The 2024 US presidential election has given mixed results for Elon Musk. While Americans voted to bring Donald Trump, Musk’s endorsed candidate, back to the White House, the tech billionaire’s platform, X, saw a massive user exodus. After the election results, X experienced its largest user drop since Musk acquired it two years ago, according to NBC News.
Data from Similarweb revealed that over 115,000 users in the US deactivated their X accounts the day after the November 6 election. The figure is based on tracking visits to the deactivation page of X (formerly Twitter), indicating a significant shift. However, X also saw a surge in traffic, with 42.3 million visits on the same day.
Public Figures Abandon X for BlueSky
Since the election, several celebrities, journalists, and public figures have abandoned X in favor of rival platform BlueSky. Notable figures who left include Barbra Streisand, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cusack, Guillermo del Toro, and more, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Journalists, a key group for X, have also joined the exodus. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon expressed disappointment, stating that X no longer serves as a platform for honest debate or free speech.
News organizations like The Guardian and Spain’s La Vanguardia have also ceased posting on X, citing the rise of disturbing content and disinformation. Even large retailers, such as Best Buy and Target, have paused their advertisements on the platform.
Why Are Users Leaving X?
This isn’t the first time X has faced a user migration. The platform’s rebrand under Musk and the controversial ‘blue tick’ overhaul sparked earlier backlash. However, the increasing politicization of X seems to be the main driver for user departures now. Musk’s support for Trump has led to doubts about his ability to keep his personal politics separate from the platform, pushing many left-leaning users to seek alternatives.
A study by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) found that X’s algorithm appears to prioritize Musk’s account and conservative voices, especially after Musk’s endorsement of Trump in July 2024. The study showed a clear shift in engagement patterns around that time.
Privacy Concerns and Platform Changes
In addition to political concerns, privacy issues are driving users away. X recently updated its terms of service, allowing user posts to be used to train Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI. This change has raised alarms among privacy-conscious users.
Another change that has upset users is the updated blocking feature. Previously, blocking someone on X meant they couldn’t see your posts or interact with you. The new feature allows blocked users to view your public posts but still prevents interactions.
Users have also criticized X for becoming a platform riddled with toxic content, hate speech, and disinformation due to a lack of proper moderation.
Will X Survive?
X’s value has dropped nearly 80% since Musk’s acquisition, but it’s not quite the end. Despite the challenges, a recent Pew Research survey revealed that 59% of users still rely on X for news. It also appears that advertisers are returning to the platform, with major companies like IBM, Disney, and Warner Bros. resuming ad campaigns after Trump’s election victory.
Musk’s relationship with Trump could also lead to a more politically active X, similar to how Trump used Twitter during his presidency. However, with Trump’s own platform, Truth Social, still in play, it remains uncertain whether X will serve as his main channel for communication.
Leave a Reply