Twitter takeover: 1 year later, X struggles with misinformation, advertising and usage decline

Elon Musk has made several significant changes to Twitter, including rebranding it as “X,” dismantling core features like the name and logo, changing the verification system, and discontinuing the Trust and Safety advisory group. He has also made changes to content moderation and hate speech enforcement.

X has seen a decline in its user base under Elon Musk’s ownership. Many long-term users have left the platform, and there has been a decrease in engagement and usage, leading to a significant drop in advertising revenue.

Advertising revenue on X has declined significantly since Elon Musk’s takeover. Insider Intelligence estimates a 54% drop in advertising revenue from 2022, with a return to levels last seen in 2015. Musk himself has mentioned a 50% drop in advertising revenue and financial challenges for the platform.

Misinformation and propaganda have been spread on X, with some blue-checked accounts amplifying false narratives. The platform’s algorithms have been implicated in promoting such content. This issue has drawn the attention of organizations like the European Commission, leading to formal requests for information regarding hate speech and misinformation.

The future of X remains uncertain under Elon Musk’s ownership. His vision of turning it into an “everything app” faces challenges, and it’s unclear how the platform will evolve. Financial difficulties, user decline, and concerns about misinformation are some of the key factors influencing its future.