Elon Musk, the self-proclaimed “free-speech absolutist,” announced that X (formerly Twitter) is rolling out a new algorithm to reduce negativity on the platform. Apparently, the man who once championed unfiltered expression now thinks there’s too much bad energy out there. Go figure.
In a Friday post, Musk explained the tweak would prioritize “informational and entertaining content” to maximize what he called “unregretted user-seconds.” In simpler terms: keep you scrolling without hating yourself—or the platform. “Too much negativity is being pushed,” he wrote, adding that while it technically keeps users engaged, it’s not the kind of engagement X wants.
Of course, he didn’t elaborate on what qualifies as “negative.” That’s for you to trust X to decide—comforting, isn’t it?
Musk also teased plans to let users customize their feeds for a more “personalized” experience, which sounds nice until you remember who’s calling the shots. Unsurprisingly, some X users accused Musk of hypocrisy, given his free-speech crusade and history of reinstating accounts that thrive on stirring up outrage.
Florida-based AI expert Ed Krassenstein chimed in, pointing out the convenient timing: “Funny how X thrived on negativity during Biden’s presidency but now wants to punish it under Trump,” he quipped.
Others worried that labeling posts as “negative” could suppress important conversations, like, say, actual news. But hey, who needs complex issues when you’ve got meme content, right?
This isn’t the first time Musk’s “free speech” ideals have raised eyebrows. After polling users, he reinstated Donald Trump’s account following its suspension post-January 6. “The people have spoken. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk declared in 2022, invoking Latin to add a touch of gravitas to his crowd-sourced decision-making.
Critics have noted, however, that Musk’s version of free speech has cost X dearly. Major brands pulled their advertising dollars in 2023 after Musk endorsed an antisemitic post, driving away revenue faster than a Tesla on autopilot. But hey, as long as we’re chasing those unregretted user-seconds, who’s counting?
