Elon Musk's 'social experiment on humanity': How X evolved in 2024

 Billionaire Elon Musk has been praising Twitter as a bastion of free speech since he acquired the social media site two years ago. But by 2024, X, as it is now called, had gone from being a communal town square to a polarizing hub where opinions and posts seemed more controversial.

Profiles sharing misleading ideas about politics and news, some of which have been accused of inciting hatred, have recently gained popularity.

All of this is important because X may not have the same user base as other major social media sites, but it appears to have a significant influence on political discourse. It’s not just a place where some high-profile politicians, governments and police forces share statements and opinions – but now its owner, Mr Musk, has aligned himself directly with Donald Trump, a relationship that could redefine how the bosses of other social media giants deal with the next US president.

So what’s behind this new wave of change? Has the demographics of X users changed over the past year – or could it be the result of a deliberate decision by those in charge?

Two months ago, Inevitable West didn’t exist on X. Now the profile, which bills itself as a “defender of Western values ​​and culture”, has amassed 131,600 followers (and is growing rapidly). According to its creator, it is getting around 30 million views per day. Even Mr Musk has responded to Inevitable West’s posts on X.

Their recent posts, which often have news alert-style captions, include a fake video of Trump telling the British prime minister that he will “invade your country and make Britain great again”.

There have also been several posts in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, as well as some debunked claims about farmers’ protests in the UK and a stabbing attack in Southport, where three children were killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

Inevitable West denies the accusations of spreading false information and inciting abuse or violence. “The purpose of my X account is to be the voice of the silent majority in the Western world,” its creator told me. When we corresponded, they refused to share their identities with me, instead claiming to be “Gen Z” and “not Russian.”

“Uncensored information and opinions will inevitably move the United States and the entire West and Europe further to the right, [as] evidenced by the election of Donald Trump and the rise of the far right in Europe,” they argued. “Globally, this will mean that corrupt politicians and leaders will be found out.”

They seem to see the rise of their account as the “death” of “MSM,” or mainstream media. This is perhaps not surprising, given that, after the US election, Mr. Musk himself told X users: “You are the media now.”