Elon Musk's unwavering commitment to transforming X Corp into a credible news platform was evident in his recent declaration that the platform embodies the essence of "open source news." In Musk's perspective, X represents a unique, open channel where everything of relevance from the conventional legacy media is readily accessible.
Responding to a query from one of his followers regarding the potential spread of false information on X, Musk underlined the power vested in the platform's users to counter such misinformation through their own posts and the deployment of Community Notes.
"When fake news spreads on CNN, MSNBC, or in The New York Times or Washington Post, they get the final say and can double down on their false narrative," the X user posted.
Musk said "yes," adding that X is an open source news platform.
"That is the right way to think about it. Anything relevant in legacy media is reposted here anyway," he added.
Nonetheless, not all users were entirely convinced by Musk's vision of X as a trusted news hub. Some expressed doubts, pointing to the lingering issue of untrustworthy information. While Community Notes do offer a degree of respite, they do not always surface promptly to correct the record. Critics raised concerns about X being, in their view, a breeding ground for misinformation with a contentious focus on American institutions.
In a bid to catalyze citizen journalism, Musk had previously encouraged individuals to embrace X as a platform for such grassroots reporting. His clarion call emphasized the ease with which live video can be streamed directly from one's phone, heralding the potential for ordinary citizens to become the catalysts of global change.
As part of the broader campaign to reduce reliance on conventional media, X implemented a significant alteration by eschewing headline displays for shared news articles. Instead, the platform now showcases only the main image and the associated web domain, preserving the core essence of the news while minimizing the sensationalism often associated with headlines.
In an unprecedented move in August, Musk extended an invitation to journalists to publish their content directly on X, formerly known as Twitter, promising a more substantial financial incentive compared to traditional media channels. This bold step underscores Musk's unwavering belief in X's potential to revolutionize the news industry and empower both creators and consumers of news content in the digital era.
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