Elon Musk was accused of censorship on X by MAGA influencers after 14 accounts that disagreed with his pro-immigration views were denied authentication and monetization. Musk supports the system by pointing out that accounts that are heavily muted or blocked have a lower reach.After at least 14 accounts lost their blue verification badges, a premium feature that allows monetization, late Thursday and Friday, conservative influencers accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of stifling dissenting views on X, previously Twitter. The alleged allegations came to light after Musk's immigration policies were criticized.
Blue verification and monetization services are removed from accounts.
According to an NBC News review, these accounts lost their verification badges and were no longer able to access features like advertising revenue-sharing and subscription profits. As of Friday, the accounts were still functioning, although their owners voiced worries about the impact on their ability to engage with followers.
Laura Loomer claims censorship and targeted restrictions.
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer is one among the detractors, saying, "I've been prohibited from buying expensive products as of late. We are constantly advised to purchase premium. However, you lose your premium check and are prohibited from purchasing Premium if you condemn immigration. Complete censorship. MAGA has been kept quiet. Following an online altercation with Musk, Loomer also claimed that over 75% of responses to her posts were flagged as spam.
Elon Musk defends algorithm amid Conservative censorship claims on X Elon Musk has responded to conservative influencers' assertions that his pro-legal immigration attitude was the reason behind the removal of their premium account features.
Musk used X on Thursday night to describe the algorithmic rules of the platform.
Musk posted on Twitter, "Just a reminder that the algorithm is trying to maximize unregretted user-seconds." "Your reach will drastically decrease if far more reliable, verified subscriber accounts—not bots—mute or block your account in comparison to those who like your posts."
Justification for spam policies
"That said, any accounts found to be engaged in coordinated attacks to spam target accounts with mute/blocks will themselves be categorized – correctly – as spam," he further stated in a subsequent tweet. "Live off of spam, or perish from it."
Musk has come under fire for allegedly shadowbanning conservatives.
Musk's answer did little to stop the outcry, as many conservatives took his comments as support for the practice of "shadowbanning," which lowers post visibility without informing impacted users.
Preston Parra calls the acts retaliatory.
Conservative influencer Preston Parra, 23, described X's actions as revenge for dissenting from Musk's opinions.
In a text message, Parra stated, "If anyone for a moment believes that the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA will stand by and do nothing while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs… steal our country, they are mistaken."
Musk's free speech position is causing tensions to rise.
The dispute represents a widening gap between conservative groups accusing Musk of selective censorship and Musk, who has defended X as a bulwark of free speech. Musk has not yet addressed claims that he singled out detractors for his political beliefs.
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer is one among the detractors, saying, "I've been prohibited from buying expensive products as of late. We are constantly advised to purchase premium. However, you lose your premium check and are prohibited from purchasing Premium if you condemn immigration. Complete censorship. MAGA has been kept quiet. Following an online altercation with Musk, Loomer also claimed that over 75% of responses to her posts were flagged as spam.
Elon Musk defends algorithm amid Conservative censorship claims on X Elon Musk has responded to conservative influencers' assertions that his pro-legal immigration attitude was the reason behind the removal of their premium account features.
Musk used X on Thursday night to describe the algorithmic rules of the platform.
Musk posted on Twitter, "Just a reminder that the algorithm is trying to maximize unregretted user-seconds." "Your reach will drastically decrease if far more reliable, verified subscriber accounts—not bots—mute or block your account in comparison to those who like your posts."
Justification for spam policies
"That said, any accounts found to be engaged in coordinated attacks to spam target accounts with mute/blocks will themselves be categorized – correctly – as spam," he further stated in a subsequent tweet. "Live off of spam, or perish from it."
Musk has come under fire for allegedly shadowbanning conservatives.
Musk's answer did little to stop the outcry, as many conservatives took his comments as support for the practice of "shadowbanning," which lowers post visibility without informing impacted users.
Preston Parra calls the acts retaliatory.
Conservative influencer Preston Parra, 23, described X's actions as revenge for dissenting from Musk's opinions.
In a text message, Parra stated, "If anyone for a moment believes that the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA will stand by and do nothing while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs… steal our country, they are mistaken."
Musk's free speech position is causing tensions to rise.
The dispute represents a widening gap between conservative groups accusing Musk of selective censorship and Musk, who has defended X as a bulwark of free speech. Musk has not yet addressed claims that he singled out detractors for his political beliefs.
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