abcnews.go.com
Musk-Trump Feud Sends X's User Engagement Soaring
A public dispute between Elon Musk and Donald Trump on X caused a 54% increase in U.S. mobile app active users between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, while Truth Social experienced a fivefold surge; experts believe X's dominance in political discourse remains largely unaffected despite this.
- What was the immediate impact of the Musk-Trump feud on X's user engagement and Truth Social's activity?
- A public feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) led to a 54% surge in U.S. mobile app active users between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. Truth Social, Trump's platform, saw a fivefold increase in users during the same period. This highlights X's reliance on personality-driven engagement.
- How did the feud affect the relative positions of X and Truth Social in the political discourse landscape?
- The conflict amplified X's position as a spectacle-driven platform, where controversy boosts user engagement, as noted by Cornell University's Sarah Kreps. While Truth Social experienced a temporary increase, its significantly smaller user base (about 100 times smaller than X's) prevented substantial user migration from X. This suggests X's dominance in political discourse remains largely unaffected.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of the Musk-Trump feud for X's advertising business and its overall user base?
- The long-term impact on X's advertising revenue is uncertain. While some advertisers may reconsider their spending due to the feud, the ongoing FTC investigation into potential ad boycotts incentivizes brands to remain on the platform. The incident underscores the inherent risks and rewards of a personality-driven platform, where high-profile conflicts can generate short-term gains but pose long-term reputational and business challenges.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the feud as primarily a spectacle, focusing on the entertainment value and engagement metrics rather than deeper political or social consequences. The use of phrases like "reality show" and "mercurial twists and turns" shapes the narrative towards viewing the events as a form of entertainment.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, although descriptors like "mercurial twists and turns" regarding Musk's personality could be considered somewhat loaded. The article uses terms like "blowup" and "feud", which have a dramatic tone, rather than more neutral terms like "dispute" or "conflict".
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses heavily on the immediate impact of the feud on X's user engagement and advertising, but doesn't delve into the broader political implications or potential long-term effects on public discourse. It also omits a detailed examination of the content of Trump's posts on Truth Social, limiting the analysis of his perspective and its impact.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by primarily framing the situation as a choice between X and Truth Social, neglecting other platforms like BlueSky and their potential roles in capturing audiences dissatisfied with both Musk and Trump. The analysis implicitly suggests that users will either stay on X or move to Truth Social, overlooking the possibility of diversification across platforms.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a conflict between the president and a wealthy individual, showcasing the existing power imbalance and potential for misuse of social media platforms to influence public discourse. This can exacerbate existing inequalities in access to information and political participation.