Fri Sep 20 11:30:04 UTC 2024: ## Elon Musk’s X Platform Fuels Misinformation, Alarms Fact-Checkers

**St. Petersburg, FL** – A recent Poynter article by Angela Fu highlights the alarming shift of X, formerly Twitter, from a platform aimed at combatting misinformation to a breeding ground for it under Elon Musk’s leadership.

Fu notes that while other social media platforms like Meta and TikTok engage with independent fact-checkers to combat misinformation, X has chosen a different path. Instead of formal partnerships, X relies on its “Community Notes” program, which while having advantages, is susceptible to flaws and allows misinformation to spread unchecked.

Musk’s own actions have amplified this concern. He has repeatedly used his platform to spread false information, including about the 2020 US elections, a fabricated video about Haitian immigrants, and a baseless claim about assassination plots against former President Trump.

These actions have alarmed fact-checkers worldwide, who fear the impact on users and upcoming elections. The Center for Countering Digital Hate reported that Musk made 50 false or misleading posts about the U.S. elections between Jan. 1 and July 31, generating nearly 1.2 billion views.

With Musk’s increasing use of X for spreading misinformation and divisive content, the platform’s role in the information landscape is shifting dramatically. It remains to be seen how this evolution will affect the future of online discourse and the fight against misinformation.

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