Social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, is facing criticism after it was revealed that they delayed access to links leading to content on popular platforms such as the Reuters and New York Times websites, as well as their competitors like Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. A report by the Washington Post on Tuesday shed light on this matter, stating that clicking on a link from X led to a delay of approximately five seconds before the webpage loaded. Reuters also confirmed experiencing a similar delay during their tests.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, it appeared that X had eliminated the delay. However, when contacted for comment, X confirmed the removal of the delay but did not provide any further details or explanation. This questionable move by X raises eyebrows, especially considering billionaire Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of the social media giant in October. Musk, who owns companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has previously expressed his disdain for news organizations and journalists who have reported critically on his ventures.
This is not the first time Twitter has taken action to prevent users from posting links to competing social media platforms. The platform has a history of restricting access to rival platforms as a means of maintaining dominance in the market. However, the recent delay in accessing websites like the New York Times has sparked concerns and further scrutiny of X’s actions.
While it is unclear precisely when X started delaying links to certain websites, a post on Hacker News, a popular tech forum, claimed that X began the delay on August 4 for links to the New York Times. This date coincided with Elon Musk’s criticism of the publication’s coverage of South Africa, where he accused it of supporting genocide. However, Reuters could not establish a direct link between the delay and Musk’s comments. Nevertheless, the timing raises suspicions and questions about X’s motives.
Both the New York Times and Reuters responded to the delay with concern. A spokesperson for the New York Times stated that they had not received any explanation from X regarding the delay. The spokesperson expressed worry about targeted pressure being applied to news organizations without clear reasons. Similarly, a Reuters spokesperson acknowledged the report and stated that they are looking into the matter.
Interestingly, X’s rival, Bluesky, which counts Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey on its board, did not respond to requests for comment. Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding this issue.
Social Media Company X’s decision to delay access to content on certain websites has sparked controversy and criticism. The lack of transparency and clarity surrounding the motive for this delay has raised concerns among news organizations and the general public. The timing of the delay, coinciding with Elon Musk’s previous criticism of the New York Times, adds an intriguing element to this situation. It remains to be seen how X will address the backlash and whether this incident will impact its reputation moving forward.
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