Critical Analysis of Elon Musk’s Misleading Claims About Twitter’s Success

Elon Musk’s recent claims about X surpassing Meta’s apps in terms of usage are dubious at best. While Musk cites data from SimilarWeb to support his argument, it is important to note that the figures provided only measure web traffic, not app usage. Given that the majority of X users access the platform via mobile devices, the web traffic data presents an incomplete picture of X’s overall usage. In reality, X falls far behind Facebook and Instagram in terms of daily active users, with a mere fraction of its reported 250 million users logging in via the website.

Another misleading aspect of Musk’s claims relates to X’s classification as a “News” app. Twitter’s strategic move to reposition itself in the App Store’s “News” category was a calculated decision to boost its visibility and appeal. While X does feature news content and publishers, it is fundamentally a social media platform, not a dedicated news app. As such, Musk’s assertion that X is the leading News app is inherently flawed and misrepresents the nature of the platform.

Contrary to Musk’s optimistic portrayal, X has experienced stagnant user growth in recent months. The platform reported reaching 250 million daily active users back in November 2022, and has failed to add any new users since then. While there has been a marginal increase in monthly active users, this growth is not indicative of significant interest or engagement. Moreover, X’s average daily user seconds have declined, indicating a decrease in user activity within the app. Additionally, reports suggest that X’s revenue has dropped by around 50% compared to the previous year, further underscoring the platform’s struggles.

In light of the data presented, Elon Musk’s unfounded claims about X’s success serve to create a false narrative around the platform’s performance. By highlighting selective metrics and overlooking key indicators of growth and engagement, Musk perpetuates a misleading portrayal of X’s standing in the social media landscape. It is crucial to scrutinize such claims and seek a more nuanced understanding of the factors shaping X’s current status.

Elon Musk’s enthusiastic endorsements of X’s purported success are based on incomplete and misleading information. By cherry-picking data points and framing them in a favorable light, Musk distorts the reality of X’s performance and downplays the platform’s actual challenges. It is imperative to approach Musk’s claims with a critical eye and consider the full scope of evidence available before drawing any conclusions about X’s trajectory in the competitive social media market.