Social Media’s Dark Turn: Hate and Bigotry Rise on ‘X’
Social media has become a haven for some to connect with family and friends and for others to be a part of or to create a community based on commonality or interest. Social media is more popular now than ever, especially with the rise of apps such as TikTok making it accessible to everyone. But with a rise in popularity also comes an increase of hatred and bigotry. Social media platforms such as Twitter have become a cesspool of racist ideology and conservative propaganda ever since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company in 2022 changing the platform’s name to “X.”
In the short span of two years, the usage of the N-word rose 500 percent after Musk acquired Twitter according to Business Insiders. Hundreds of gimmick accounts perpetuating racism and white supremacy ideology with X accounts such as “Black Taking L’s” that perpetuate racist African American stereotypes on the platform. And “End Wokeness,” a political conservative account that Elon Musk replies to from time to time, spreading conservative propaganda regarding immigration, women’s rights, voting rights and politics. Both accounts were made after Elon Musk acquired Twitter.
Shortly afer acquiring Twitter in 2022, Musk tweeted on Oct. 28 that “Comedy is now legal on Twitter.” That “comedy” has been nothing but racism, homophobia, and xenophobia. X has gotten worse over time to the point where advertisers have pulled out of the X platform and the app is now filled with political campaigns. And now with the recent presidential debate, where former President Trump said the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio is eating cats and dogs, which is false. Musk is endorsing this narrative by reposting AI images of Trump with cats and ducks.
Twitter was once a platform of discussion, community and real comedy, but has now been dissolved into supremacist ideology. With “comedy,” the platform has a haven for racists and bigots Elon Musk endorsing these taken a turn for the worse in to spread their hollow white actions under the name of the short span of two years.