Elon Musk has Solved my Dilemma

Elon Musk has Solved my Dilemma

I have come to recognize that many of us are creatures of habit, and this applies equally to my relationship with X, formerly known as Twitter. I joined Twitter in 2010, returning from across the Atlantic, to raise my voice in defence of democracy and privacy. After some hesitant first steps, I discovered its potential as a powerful information network.

However, with the arrival of Donald J. Trump, Twitter transformed into an echo chamber—a “Twi-Light Zone,” if you will—dominating the 24/7 news cycle. This led to what I can only describe as “news exhaustion,” fuelled by Trump’s endless lies, the Brexit debacle in Britain, and the chaos of COVID-19. These developments already made me question the balance between Twitter’s usefulness and its alignment with my values.

In the Trump era, with its tribalism and cult-like fervour, Twitter held up a mirror to society. What I saw reflected was unsettling. Beneath the polished veneer of modern civilization lies decay; the house humanity built is fragile, its foundations cracked. History shows we are capable of profound moral and physical evil, and Twitter amplified that truth. It reminded me how easily we humans reconcile ourselves with abusive behaviour.

Even though I blocked Trump’s account from my feed early on, I welcomed his eventual ban, which should have happened years earlier. Amid this chaos, what kept me on Twitter were the many reasonable voices—individuals who inspired and helped maintain a semblance of sanity on my feed. Twitter’s grip on the news cycle also remained invaluable.

The 2022 purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk reignited my dilemma about whether to leave the platform. Doors were closing, but new ones opened: Mastodon and Bluesky offered alternatives. Yet old habits die hard, and Twitter’s utility for following certain people kept me lurking. I stopped participating actively but occasionally checked in, curious whether the “neighbourhood” was improving or continuing to decline. Nobody enjoys living in a slum.

Unfortunately, Elon Musk has proven to be a “slumlord,” exploiting the platform to serve his personal interests and propagate his opinions. Under his leadership, moderation policies have weakened, allowing violent content and fake news to flourish. Falsehoods now circulate faster and farther than facts, exacerbating polarization.

From a distance, the decline has become undeniable. The removal of the block function and the reinstatement of banned accounts—most infamously that of Donald Trump—are clear signs of this deterioration. Musk’s alignment with Trump, a man of bankruptcy scandals and divisive rhetoric, has ultimately resolved my dilemma.

My days of lurking on X are over. It’s time to move on and close this permanently.

Netherlands, WJJH-11.12.2024

Musings: My relationship with Twitter, now called X, has been confusing and highlights its evolution into a chaotic platform during the Trump era. With Elon Musk’s takeover and the post acquisition failure, the platform’s decline has accelerated, fostering falsehoods and polarization. Ultimately, after two years lurking its time to leave Twitter, seeking healthier alternatives for engagement.