Users’ Reach on X Dropped After Criticizing Musk, NYT Reports
Three far-right commentators on X experienced significant drops in audience reach after criticizing platform owner Elon Musk, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing data analysis of the accounts.
The users — Anastasia Maria Loupis, Laura Loomer, and Owen Shroyer — saw their visibility plummet after they criticized Musk in December over his support for visa programs for skilled workers, according to the report.
The Times data showed daily views for these accounts dropped substantially following their public disagreements with Musk. Some users temporarily lost access to X Premium and monetization features, with Loomer telling the newspaper she estimated losses of around $50,000 during the period of reduced visibility.
X’s statement to the Times said the platform has moderation tools but “does not block, limit, or remove content based on an individual’s views or opinions.”
Musk, who purchased the platform in 2022 and has called himself a “free speech absolutist,” has faced previous accusations of using his control of the platform to suppress critics, an allegation that gained attention as he became more politically aligned with President Donald Trump.
The company’s algorithms that determine content visibility are not publicly accessible, making claims of targeted suppression difficult to prove definitively, the report noted.
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