Musk’s Mismanagement: X’s Brazilian Ban and the Rise of Alternative Platforms
After weeks of legal battles in Brazil, X, formerly known as Twitter, appears to have folded to court orders and will restart operations in the country. The platform was banned for repeatedly violating local laws, a situation that serves as the latest example of X owner Elon Musk’s penchant for blustering before backing down to protect his business interests.
X’s compliance with the Brazilian Supreme Court’s orders comes after the platform was forced to block extremist accounts and appoint a legal representative in Brazil. This move follows a harsh ultimatum from Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court judge overseeing the case, who has drawn the ire of Musk and been the subject of his online attacks. Musk, known for his penchant for aligning himself with extremists, has a history of engaging in such behavior, including in Brazil, where he received an award from former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of money laundering and attempting to overturn the 2022 election. Musk’s recent actions are particularly concerning given his involvement in attempting to get Donald Trump elected in the upcoming US presidential election.
While X is poised to return to Brazil, the timeline remains uncertain. There’s also no guarantee that Brazilian users, who have flocked to alternative platforms during the ban, will return to X. Musk’s mismanagement of X in Brazil has given a major boost to competing platforms, both established players and new entrants. Tumblr, for example, has reported a 349% growth in recent months, though it’s important to note that the platform has fallen far from its peak a decade ago. Bluesky, a new social media platform launched last year, has seen a surge of 4 million new users since Musk’s conflict with Brazil began. The platform now boasts over 10.1 million users.
Musk’s actions have created a perfect storm for far-right extremism to flourish, effectively giving these groups a louder voice. Tweets promoting Holocaust denial and fringe conspiracy theories are now reaching millions, a direct consequence of Musk’s policy changes that have fostered these harmful ideologies. One key factor in this situation is Musk’s removal of verified accounts’ blue checkmarks, a measure that was initially intended to verify identities and prevent impersonation. Musk, however, abolished this program and replaced it with a system that allows anyone with $8 per month to get "verified," regardless of their actual identity and intentions.
This change in the verification system has also allowed anyone with a paid checkmark to be boosted by the platform’s algorithm, resulting in their content appearing prominently in users’ feeds. Moreover, Musk has ensured that "verified" accounts appear at the top of reply threads, further amplifying their voices and giving them undue prominence in discussions. This creates a situation where individuals, often fueled by their own biases or extremist views, are rewarded for simply paying for a checkmark, making it easier for them to dominate discussions and spread misinformation.
Musk’s recklessness has created a toxic online environment, allowing harmful content to proliferate and undermining the integrity of public discourse. While X is set to return to Brazil, the question remains: Will the platform be able to regain its user base and restore the trust it has so heavily eroded? Or will Musk’s mismanagement continue to drive users away, ultimately leading to the demise of the once-popular platform? Only time will tell, but the negative impact of his leadership is already undeniable.
The potential implications of this situation extend far beyond Brazil. Musk’s disregard for regulations and his willingness to prioritize personal gain over public safety raise concerns about the future of social media. His actions are creating a landscape where extremism can flourish, threatening to undermine democratic values and create a more polarized society. The battle for the future of online discourse is far from over, and it’s clear that Musk’s influence is shaping the playing field in a dangerous direction.
