Recent assessments argue that paying for Twitter Blue does not guarantee fair treatment for all posts. Critics say sponsored accounts can gain visibility, and controversial messages may reach wider audiences through the platform’s algorithms. In this view, Twitter under Elon Musk is alleged by researchers to tolerate and even amplify hostile content, including posts that target minorities, while policy guidelines exist to curb such material.
The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit focused on reducing online hate, published a study describing an experiment with more than a hundred Twitter Blue subscribers. The researchers reported posts containing neo-Nazi rhetoric, anti-Semitic content, xenophobia, and messages that disparage the LGBTQ community. Some examples reportedly included statements approximating that violent acts against LGBTQ people should be considered acceptable.
Twitter’s published moderation standards explicitly prohibit direct attacks based on race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion, age, disability, or illness. Yet CCDH noted that complaints submitted to the platform did not stop these messages from circulating or gaining attention, raising questions about enforcement.
In a report released at the end of March, CCDH highlighted a sharp rise in homophobic speech on the platform since Musk took leadership in October of the previous year, estimating a 119% increase. The group asserted that the platform profits from heightened user activity and from monetizing engagement with provocative content via digital advertising.
Musk pushes radicals
In recent months, Musk reportedly reduced the size of teams tasked with content moderation, including groups that monitor policy compliance. He has also removed certain limits on accounts that previously propagated disinformation and allowed some known propagandists to remain active. Critics say such moves, coupled with high-profile interactions with extreme messaging, have created an environment where radical content can thrive and spread. There are claims that the platform loosened internal guidelines relating to disinformation, even as external pressure remains high and regulatory bodies scrutinize how information is managed on social networks.
To address ongoing financial pressures, the company introduced a paid subscription feature that offers additional reach to subscribers who complete checkout processes. Observers note that this feature distinguishes paying users from those who do not subscribe and can lead to broader exposure for their posts. In the view of several experts, the presence of paid accounts signing onto Twitter Blue has correlated with faster distribution of certain kinds of content. Critics warn that this dynamic may contribute to the spread of misinformation and, in some cases, could have tangible consequences, including harmful actions against specific communities.