# The X-Odus Explained

> The platform formerly known as Twitter faces a crisis, with questions arising over its future role in both technology and politics. Once hailed as a digital town square for free exchange of ideas, X has seen its largest user exodus to date, with growing concerns over its role in amplifying authoritarian voices.

By Adrian Drayton · 18 November 2024 · News / World News

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/the-x-odus-explained/

The platform formerly known as Twitter faces a crisis, with questions arising over its future role in both technology and politics. Once hailed as a digital town square for free exchange of ideas, X has seen its largest user exodus to date, with growing concerns over its role in amplifying authoritarian voices.

#### **Bluesky Surges Amid Mass Departures**

Bluesky, a rising competitor, has amassed 16 million users, including a record 1 million in a single day last week. The surge follows the fallout from Donald Trump’s re-election on November 6, which led to hundreds of thousands of users abandoning X. The backlash stems largely from the platform’s transformation under its controversial owner, Elon Musk.

#### **Musk’s Role in the Political Landscape**

Musk, who acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, rebranded it as X and dismantled its moderation policies. Under his leadership, the platform reinstated Trump’s account, previously suspended after the January 2021 Capitol riots. Critics argue that Musk has turned X into a megaphone for the alt-right and hate speech, further alienating mainstream users and institutions.

The situation escalated after Trump announced Musk as head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This move gives Musk unprecedented influence, combining his roles as a government official and private-sector magnate overseeing Tesla, SpaceX, and X.

“I’m not aware of any precedent for this approach,” said Rob Enderle, a tech analyst, highlighting the unprecedented merging of public and private power.

#### **Cultural Exodus from X**

High-profile departures have followed, with figures like author Stephen King and celebrities Barbra Streisand and Jamie Lee Curtis leaving the platform. Organizations like *The Guardian* have also severed ties, citing the platform’s toxicity.

“X has effectively become Truth Social premium,” said Mark Carrigan, author of *Social Media for Academics,* referring to Trump’s hard-right social media platform. Speculation is mounting that Truth Social and X could merge, consolidating their influence in a “super-app” that some fear could amplify authoritarian agendas.

#### **Tensions Between Musk and Trump**

Despite their current alignment, tensions loom between Musk and Trump. Their stances on issues like climate change, trade, and China—a key market for Tesla—are often at odds. Analysts like Jonathan Monten, a political science professor at UCL, question the durability of their relationship, pointing to Musk’s transactional utility to Trump.

“Musk’s value to Trump lies in his money and the platform he provides,” said Monten. “But Trump’s brand thrives on constant shifts, and his alliances are often fleeting.”

#### **The Rise of Alternatives and the “Fediverse”**

Amid the turmoil, platforms like Bluesky and Meta’s Threads are capitalizing on user disillusionment with X. While Bluesky’s user base of 16 million pales in comparison to X’s 317 million and Threads’ 275 million, it represents a growing appetite for decentralized networks.

Advocates of the “Fediverse” envision an interconnected ecosystem where users can move seamlessly between platforms—breaking the dominance of walled-off social media giants. “This could be the start of a new era in social media,” said Carrigan, suggesting that X’s decline might pave the way for more user-centric platforms.

#### **What’s Next for X?**

The future of X will be interesting to watch. Scenarios range from a collapse of the platform, to its pivoting against Trump if Musk and the president clash, to its evolution into a testing ground for Musk’s AI ambitions. With Musk’s xAI venture valued at $40 billion, some believe artificial intelligence may shape the next chapter of social media.

For now, X teeters, its identity as uncertain as its role in shaping the future of global communication and politics.