Is X Breaking News Or Breaking The News?

Is X still the place for breaking news?

Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election right after an assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last week.

Let’s not forget that Elon can be a troll.

What does it mean when the owner of one of the most influential social media platforms backs a political candidate?
It’s uncharted territory, especially since big tech leaders have usually kept their political cards close to the chest.
Elon likes to shatter the norm where leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai keep their political preferences under wraps.
By publicly supporting Trump, Elon has essentially waved goodbye to any semblance of neutrality for X (formerly Twitter).

Is that true? What’s the real impact here?

X has always been the go-to platform for breaking news and real-time updates.
And – at the same time – it’s also notorious for the rapid spread of misinformation.
Following the assassination attempt on Trump, X was awash with false claims, wild speculations and conspiracy theories (anyone surprised?).

Do you think Elon’s endorsement is going to skew the platform’s environment even further?

Let’s take a step back.
Social media platforms hold immense power, especially among younger voters who rely on them for news (we know this).
With Elon openly backing Trump, how will this affect the way opposing voices are treated on X?
Will it tilt the balance unfairly?
Here’s something to chew on: If platforms like X are simply echo chambers for their owners’ views (and those who follow those owners), what happens to balanced discourse?

Can we still trust these platforms to provide reliable information?

Could we ever trust traditional media with this role?
The solution isn’t simple.
Stricter content moderation and transparent decision-making are crucial.
But can they keep up with the rapid pace of information spread?
Technological innovations like AI for real-time fact-checking sound promising but come with their own challenges.
Are we ready for that?
Public education and media literacy are also key.
Empowering users to critically evaluate the information they encounter online can make a huge difference (how has the Notes feature been working out for you on X?).

Are we doing enough to educate the public on discerning fact from conspiracy?

Elon’s endorsement of Trump marks a significant moment in the intersection of tech and politics.
It’s a powerful reminder of the influence — and responsibility— tech leaders have in a world where the conversation has shifted from one-way to two-way to now omni-directional.
As we navigate this new reality, how do we balance free expression with responsible content management to safeguard our democratic processes?

It’s a question worth pondering.

This is what Trudie Mason and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.