Welcome to Elon Musk’s world, where politicians are paid to be divisive
3 days, 21 hours ago

Welcome to Elon Musk’s world, where politicians are paid to be divisive

The Independent  

The revelation that Reform MPs Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe have pocketed over £10,000 from Elon Musk’s X between them is deeply depressing – and not just because wealthy, unpleasant men shunting money back and forth between each other turns the stomach. Unlike traditional media, where editorial standards might temper the most inflammatory content, X’s monetisation strategy actively incentivises division. This is because it’s not really about follower count, it’s about creating moments that trigger emotional responses – Anderson especially has made ranting online about “Pakistani rape gangs” into literally profitable content. Politicians who can reliably generate outrage can effectively be put on Musk’s payroll, creating a direct financial incentive to be as inflammatory as possible.

History of this topic

Senior Labour politician questions Elon Musk’s ‘reluctance’ to appear before MPs in parliament
Trending News
2 days, 13 hours ago
Elon Musk’s X/Twitter paying MPs to tweet is just one part of a huge battle for the future of the internet
4 days, 1 hour ago
Elon Musk: Seduced by Unbridled Power
4 days, 3 hours ago
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1 week ago
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1 week ago
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1 week ago
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1 week, 1 day ago
Musk ripped for demanding more ‘positive, beautiful’ content on his social media platform
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Mark Cuban’s quick-witted response to Elon Musk’s ‘positive content’ post breaks the internet
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2 weeks, 2 days ago
'He doesn't care': Elon Musk's call for 'more positive' attitudes instantly backfires
2 weeks, 2 days ago
MAGA backlash: Influencers say Elon Musk censors anti-immigration views on X
2 weeks, 3 days ago
‘Contemptible fools’: Elon Musk escalates MAGA rift
Trending News
2 weeks, 4 days ago
How Elon Musk’s influence has grown both online and offline in 2024
2 weeks, 5 days ago
'It costs money!' Some Republicans push back at Musk's pressure to shut down government
3 weeks, 5 days ago
Elon Musk pushing agenda for X in social media ban criticism Australia PM Albanese says
Top News
1 month, 1 week ago
Pushing an agenda for X: Australia PM on Musk's criticism of social media ban
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Elon Musk toys with idea of buying MSNBC 'for spits and giggles': reports
1 month, 2 weeks ago
‘Funniest idea ever’: Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr suggest buying MSNBC
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Lawmakers want to quiz Musk about AI's role in riots
Trending News
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Lawmakers want to quiz Musk about AI's role in riots
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Lawmakers want to quiz Musk about AI's role in riots
1 month, 3 weeks ago
UK MPs to question Elon Musk over X’s role in Southport riots
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Elon Musk to be summoned to UK parliament over X’s role in spreading 'disinformation' during August riots
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and the rise of the Free Speech Bro.
55 years ago
'Free speech is cancelled': Observers alarmed by key Trump ally's latest statement
Trending News
1 month, 4 weeks ago
Elon Musk’s X sues to block California law that aims to combat election deepfakes
2 months ago
Elon Musk to 'gameify' DOGE, create leaderboard for ‘insanely dumb’ spending of US tax dollars
2 months ago
Elon Musk threatens to deepen the rift between Europe and America
2 months ago
Elon Musk threatens to widen the rift between Europe and America
2 months ago
‘Toxic’: Leading UK media house decides to stop posting on Elon Musk-led X
2 months ago
Elon Musk’s $200 million PAC: The game-changer for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign
2 months ago
The Guardian pulls out from Elon Musk's X, cites platform's 'toxic' environment, 'disturbing content'
2 months ago
Elon Musk's biggest campaign contribution to Trump: weaponizing the First Amendment
2 months, 1 week ago
Twitter: Want to fight Donald Trump and Elon Musk? Delete your X accounts.
2 months, 1 week ago
Musk's Social Media Platform X: A Key Source of Election Misinformation
2 months, 1 week ago
Elon Musk goes all-in for Trump
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago
Elon Musk appears to have tweaked X’s algorithm to promote Trump, study claims
2 months, 1 week ago
‘Chaos and confusion’: Microsoft braces for foreign election interference in days ahead
2 months, 1 week ago
Elon Musk is now Donald Trump’s arch-propagandist – here’s why that’s a problem
3 months ago
"Misinformation superspreaders": Elon Musk is personally boosting conspiracy theorists on X
3 months, 2 weeks ago
The tweet that has finally taught Elon Musk a lesson
3 months, 4 weeks ago
Elon Musk posts then deletes shocking reaction to Donald Trump assassination attempt
3 months, 4 weeks ago
‘How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter’ authors say platform is ‘a tool for controlling political discourse’
4 months ago
Elon Musk Has Backed Himself Into a Corner in Brazil
4 months, 1 week ago
Elon Musk’s attacks on Kamala Harris become more unhinged, with help from AI
4 months, 1 week ago
Elon Musk is asking people to yell at him (ideally on X). Here’s why
4 months, 2 weeks ago
At the risk of triggering another X pile-on, here’s why we must fight the Musk and Trump army
4 months, 3 weeks ago
It’s time for somebody to step in and regulate social media
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Elon Musk’s free speech mantra collides with crackdowns on hate speech and disinformation
4 months, 4 weeks ago

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