Hate Speech and Bot Activity Persist on X Despite Musk's Promises, Study Finds

New research reveals a 50% rise in hate speech and no significant decrease in bot accounts following Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform.

A peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One found hate speech on X increased by 50% in the months after Elon Musk's October 2022 acquisition.
The rise included a 260% spike in transphobic slurs, alongside notable increases in homophobic and racist language.
The study found no evidence of a reduction in bot activity, with coordinated bot-like accounts and cryptocurrency-related posts showing potential increases.
Researchers noted a lack of transparency in X's hate speech and bot moderation policies, complicating analysis of causation.
The findings contradict Musk's public claims of decreasing hate speech exposure and highlight a need for stronger moderation policies.