‘Elon Musk’s behaviour in politics exemplifies a broader problem: the concentration of power in the hands of tech billionaires with little accountability’

FOR more than a decade it has been part of millions of people’s daily routine.

Wake up. Reach for the phone. Check Twitter. Scroll. Retweet. Like. Shower. Coffee. Like. Retweet.

For journalists it became a source of information. Not just for comment and debate, but also to find instant responses to the breaking news of the day.

But since Elon Musk took control of the social media giant, rebranding it as X, the app has deteriorated beyond recognition.

Its algorithmic content has become less tuned to an individual’s interests and more about promoting smears, propaganda and personal vendettas.

It has been transformed from a global forum into a dystopian meme carnival, and an unregulated carnival at that.

Under the subscription-based verification system, he has devalued the credibility of the blue checkmark, opening the floodgates to impersonators and misinformation. Any bot or troll with £8 a month can slap a badge on their nonsense.

Accounts used to high levels of “engagement” will have felt like they were shouting into an abyss, after effectively being demoted to see their posts reach far fewer of their followers than before. Unless they pay.

It is no surprise to find some of Camden’s more sensible users and institutions quitting the platform this week. Others are simply resting, breaking free of its manacles in the hope of a future change in ownership.

What a disappointment Elon has turned out to be!

There was a time where he appeared to be broadly intellectual and independent, using his vast fortune to break boundaries in space flight and sustainable travel.

But he turned out to be just another raving billionaire bigot from across the pond.

His decisions to reinstate accounts banned for hate speech, misinformation, and harassment have emboldened bad actors, creating a hostile environment for marginalised groups and fostering a culture of toxicity.

The mask fell off entirely this month with his very public backing of Tommy Robinson to lead a right-wing political revolt, something even Nigel Farage could not stomach.

But beyond all that, Musk’s behaviour in politics exemplifies a broader problem: the concentration of power in the hands of tech billionaires with little accountability.

Staying on Twitter under his reign arguably legitimises his vision of an unregulated, chaotic digital space where profit and ego outweigh community and integrity.

Stopping the scroll sends a clear message: the internet deserves better.

Isn’t it time to press pause on the Musk spaceship before we all crash into Mars?