Overview

• The New York Times verified data showing that three high-profile X users experienced drastic declines in daily engagement after public disputes with Elon Musk in December 2024.
• Laura Loomer and Owen Shroyer temporarily lost their X Premium monetization privileges, with Loomer estimating a $50,000 revenue loss during the period.
• Musk publicly dismissed Loomer as 'trolling for attention,' coinciding with her engagement drop, while X's help center denies limiting content based on opinions.
• Critics argue these actions contradict Musk's self-proclaimed free speech absolutism and highlight concerns over algorithmic transparency on the platform.
• The technical mechanisms behind the alleged shadow banning remain undisclosed, leaving questions about the broader implications for platform accountability.