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Elon Musk's X pushes Trump tags on all US users (www.salon.com)

submitted 4 months ago by JRepin@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.ml

129 comments fedilink hide all child comments

X, the social media platform owned by Trump megadonor Elon Musk, is promoting Trump campaign-curated content to all U.S. users, regardless of whether they have opted out of Trump-related content.

On the platform formerly known as Twitter, banner ads for the Trump campaign donning the #Trump2024 tag appear for all U.S. users, even those who’ve blocked words, topics, and hashtags related to the candidate or his campaign or muted the advertiser.

Additionally, the #MAGA tag displays an edited image of the former president from his attempted assassination and the #Trump2024 hashtag displays an American flag.

It is unclear whether the Trump campaign paid for the images on the #Trump2024 and #MAGA tags, though an advertisement for the tag on the site’s trending page reads “Promoted by Team Trump.” As Mashable noted, it is the first time the platform has enabled the image feature to promote a specific political candidate.

Clicking the Trump2024 tag also prompts American flag graphics to flood the screen.

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[–] aStonedSanta@lemm.ee 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

So is Elon Musk paying himself for these ads? What are the implications around that ideology? If he’s donating 34 mill a month and that all is going to Twitter for this…

[–] Sethayy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

"Paying for these adds" lol he owns the platform, sure he'll probably get some mega donation tax breaks but like all he has to do is flip a couple bits, which is pretty damn cheal

[–] A7thStone@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

I think they mean paying for these ads in the "creative" bookkeeping way.

[–] geekworking@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Wouldn't the value of this advertising be a direct campaign contribution that could violate campaign finance laws?

[–] aStonedSanta@lemm.ee 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

That’s kinda what I’m playing at. The whole things stinks. Essentially a way for him to project Twitters advertising as bumping back in a big way cause of all the “campaign funds” funneling back into Twitter. So paying himself maybe isn’t the right wording but I think it nails the context of what I mean. Edit: spelling.