Fri Feb 14 12:00:16 UTC 2025: ## Elon Musk’s X Ownership Linked to 50% Spike in Hate Speech: Study

**New Delhi, February 14, 2025** – A new analysis published in PLOS One reveals a significant increase in hate speech on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following Elon Musk’s acquisition. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found a nearly 50% spike in hate speech compared to pre-acquisition levels. This increase encompasses various forms of hate, including racism, homophobia, and transphobia, and is accompanied by a 70% rise in engagement (likes) on hate-related content.

Contrary to Musk’s pledge to eliminate spam bots, the study also found no decrease, and possibly an increase, in bot and bot-like account activity during his tenure as CEO. This raises concerns about potential negative consequences such as scams, election interference, and harm to public health campaigns.

The findings corroborate previous research indicating a surge in hate speech immediately after Musk’s takeover. The study highlights the long-term negative impact of this increase, emphasizing the erosion of safe and democratic online spaces and the potential for offline harm.

These findings come on the heels of an August 2023 study in *Trends in Ecology and Evolution*, which reported a near 50% drop in environmentalists active on X after Musk’s takeover – a significantly higher rate than for users discussing general politics.

The authors of the PLOS One study call for stricter moderation on X and further research into social media activity and engagement to address these concerning trends. The persistent rise in hate speech and the prevalence of inauthentic accounts raise serious questions about the safety and integrity of online platforms.

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