Musk's Trump Endorsement Backfires: X Sees Largest User Exodus Amid Lack of Political Neutrality, Will Tesla Be Next?
1min read The aftermath of the US presidential election has seen a dramatic shift in the social media landscape, with X (formerly Twitter) experiencing its largest user exodus since Elon Musk's acquisition in 2022.
This mass exodus, fueled by Musk's vocal support for Donald Trump, has driven users to alternative platforms like Bluesky and Threads, leaving many questioning the future of X and even Tesla.
On November 6th, the day after Trump's re-election, X saw a record 115,414 account deactivations, surpassing the previous high set in December 2023 after Musk reinstated the account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. This exodus was particularly pronounced in the US, with Similarweb reporting a 38% increase in daily traffic to X on November 6th compared to recent months.
The exodus from X has been accompanied by a surge in user growth for alternative platforms. Bluesky, founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, reported over 1 million new users in the past week, bringing its total user base to over 15 million. Threads, Instagram's text-based platform, has also seen significant growth, surpassing 275 million monthly active users.
The exodus from X is attributed to a combination of factors, including concerns about bots, partisan advertisements, harassment, and a perceived decline in the platform's value. Many users feel that X has become a breeding ground for misinformation and hate speech, particularly after Musk's endorsement of Trump. This lack of political neutrality has alienated many users who previously relied on X for unbiased information and discourse.
The impact of this exodus extends beyond X, with some analysts questioning the future of Tesla, Musk's electric vehicle company. Tesla's stock price has been volatile in recent months, and some investors are concerned that Musk's political activities could negatively impact the company's brand image and financial performance.