Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York expressed concerns over Elon Musk’s purchase of the social platform X, hinting at a possible departure from the platform.
In a conversation with The New York Times, Ocasio-Cortez mentioned, “The dynamic of the media space has significantly shifted since Musk’s involvement with X.”
When probed by the Times about the possibility of her leaving X, where she has a massive following of 13.2 million, she replied, “It’s something I’ve pondered upon.”
“My engagement on X has noticeably decreased,” she stated. “The idea of officially stepping away is something we’re weighing – we’re contemplating if a specific event might trigger it or if it’s a decision that will emerge organically.”
Highlighting the importance of her X audience, the largest she has on any social platform, she responded, “It’s a major consideration, and it’s not to be dismissed lightly.”
AOC emphasized her dilemma about whether staying on X might inadvertently endorse Musk’s decisions and the way he manages the platform.
“This is an internal conflict for me. I’ve deliberately reduced my X interactions due to these worries, and it’s a matter I grapple with,” she shared with the Times.
She added, “My efforts have lately shifted towards nurturing audiences on different platforms. However, during critical events, like natural calamities in New York, it’s crucial to have a reliable communication channel. But the current scenario with X is unsettling.”
In a previous incident, Ocasio-Cortez expressed her frustrations with the platform in May, after Musk highlighted a spoof account mimicking her, as noted by the Independent.
On May 30, Ocasio-Cortez voiced her concerns on X, saying, “A misleading account is portraying me on this platform and has gained momentum. The head of X has even interacted with it, amplifying its reach.”
“This profile is disseminating incorrect policy declarations and is rapidly spreading,” she added. “I’m in talks with my team about our next steps. I urge everyone to verify the authenticity of the content.”
In a subsequent comment last month, she refuted X’s assertion that a vast majority of users and advertisers perceive the platform’s content as “favorable.”
“My experiences with online intimidation on X have been at their peak recently,” AOC posted on July 18.
