The influence of X owner, paired with his willingness to engage with far-right ideologues and promote content that aligns with extremist narratives, has raised alarm bells
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Tech mogul Elon Musk’s influence, coupled with perceived endorsements of extremist and fascist ideologies, has sparked widespread concerns among political analysts and the general public.
With over 150 million followers on X, his posts often set the tone for global discussions. His acquisition of Twitter in late 2022 further cemented his status as a key player in shaping public opinion.
Musk’s support or engagement with extremist narratives could have far-reaching consequences. Social media platforms, especially ones as influential as X, play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and political landscapes. Analysts warn that Musk’s actions might embolden authoritarian regimes and extremist groups, potentially destabilising fragile democracies worldwide.
In an open letter to billionaire Elon Musk, Chris Anderson, the head of TED, has said the owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is forgetting the “core tenets of journalism.”
Anderson was reacting to Musk’s recent posts on X wherein he has frequently been bashing international governments whose politics he dislikes and praising far-right figures. Musk has been using X to post several criticisms and accusations aimed at political figures – especially in the UK, Germany, and Canada.
Anderson is a British-American businessman and heads TED, a non-profit organisation that provides idea-based talks and hosts an annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Anderson’s open letter to Musk on Tuesday reads: “…Without them, I think your efforts to make X the respected home of citizen journalism will fail. When you tell hundreds of millions of people that someone should be hanged or jailed for outrageous crimes against humanity, just possibly you should first sound out what those who know those people really well would say about them. Some of your recent posts could literally get someone killed. Do you really want to risk that?”
“You say you want to maximise un-regretted user seconds on X. By far the simplest way you could do this, Elon, is simply to thoughtfully edit what you yourself post,” Anderson said.
According to Anderson, the owner of X is failing to follow the “fairness doctrine” – which says that before publishing critical claims about an individual, or an institution, one must reach out to them for their side of the story. While the TED chief believes that Musk is eyeing issues that are important and worthy of efforts, he said that the way it is being presented is “playground bullying”.
“It’s crass and it’s cruel, and it’s therefore not nearly as effective as it could be. You’re hearing the cheers of your most loyal followers, but missing the fact you’re making yourself a laughing stock among many who you really want on your side. Long-term that’s going to damage X, your other businesses, and indeed your long-term dreams for humanity. No one wants to follow a playground bully to Mars,” Anderson said.
Anderson mentioned that while Musk is someone he admires, at present, he is causing concern.
“I miss the old Elon. You can be funny, interesting, insightful and inspiring. You’ve fought incredibly hard for what you’ve built. And you may feel you’re entitled to do whatever the hell you want with it. But I also know that you understand the danger of holding too tightly to the ring of power, how it can distort someone’s judgment and turn them ugly,” he wrote.
“I’m hoping you can loosen that ring just a little. For the love of humanity that you profess, I really urge you to embrace the fairness doctrine and showcase a better face of X,” Anderson added.
Musk has not yet responded to the letter.
Elon Musk’s achievements in technology and innovation are undeniably transformative. However, his increasing clout and perceived support for extremist ideologies underscore the urgent need for a balanced approach to regulating influential figures in the digital age. – With inputs from Agencies
