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Conservative commentator Erick Erickson launched a scathing critique of X (formerly Twitter) under Elon Musk’s ownership, condemning what he describes as a platform overrun with misinformation, artificial intelligence manipulation, and antisemitism.
In a detailed Substack post published last Thursday, the self-described “Christian broadcaster” and former Republican politician expressed deep concerns about the social media site’s deterioration since Musk acquired it in 2022.
“Elon Musk took over Twitter, ridiculously changing its name to the single letter of the alphabet most associated with pornography,” Erickson wrote. “Adjusted the algorithm away from the Left’s preferences, but then opened the door to AI slop, ever-increasing misinformation, and raging antisemitism.”
The 50-year-old commentator, who previously served as a CNN political contributor and Macon, Georgia city council member, particularly focused on the spread of false information regarding international conflicts. He claimed that according to misleading accounts on the platform, “Tel Aviv has been leveled by Iran two dozen times in the past four weeks and anything that offends the Left is a genocide.”
“Insanity runs rampant. People who want to be informed are, instead, misled,” Erickson stated, adding that X “has been exploited by monetized accounts seeking profit from outrage and by misinformation campaigns seeking to undermine a war effort against the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.”
What seems to disturb Erickson most is the involvement of self-identified Christians in spreading disinformation. As Easter approached, he noted, “Many of the people advancing the nonsense, the antisemitism, the conspiracies, and the lies also chant ‘Christ is King.'” He expressed frustration that those “who know better stay silent” because these problematic voices are presumed to be on the “right” side of the political spectrum.
“Having influencers hold themselves out as Christians while advancing poisonous antisemitism, conspiracy theories, misinformation, and lies harms the Christian witness,” Erickson argued, specifically calling out fellow conservative commentator Candace Owens for promoting conspiracy theories about the September 2025 assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
He also criticized a streamer known as Ethan Levins, questioning how anyone could trust their religious teachings when they “spread disinformation online.” Levins, previously known for pro-Israel content, was cited as another example of what Erickson sees as the corrupting influence of political misinformation on faith communities.
Erickson’s criticism reflects growing concerns about content moderation on X. Since Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the platform in October 2022, researchers have documented significant changes in content policies and enforcement, with many noting an increase in hate speech and misinformation. The platform has lost many major advertisers concerned about brand safety, while Musk has championed what he describes as “free speech” values.
The conservative commentator’s frustration appears to stem from both theological and informational concerns—suggesting that Christians have a particular responsibility to reject falsehoods regardless of political alignment. “If a Christian truly believes Christ has risen,” he wrote, they should call out people who “co-opt the faith for a political enterprise.”
In his conclusion, Erickson offered a stark warning to those mixing Christianity with conspiracy theories: “Twitter is its own special hell and those who pronounce ‘Christ is King’ while spreading conspiracy theories will, eventually, discover the real one.”
His critique joins a broader conversation about the responsibilities of social media platforms, the spread of AI-generated content, and the intersection of religious identity with political communication in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
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10 Comments
While I’m generally in favor of free speech, the spread of false information and hateful ideologies on X is worrying. Musk will have to find the right approach to moderation and accountability.
This commentary raises valid concerns about the direction of X under Musk’s leadership. Misinformation, AI manipulation, and antisemitism are serious issues that need to be addressed, even in the name of free speech.
It will be interesting to see if Musk acknowledges these criticisms and outlines a plan to maintain X as a trustworthy platform.
The issues highlighted here – AI manipulation, misinformation, and antisemitism – are concerning for any social media platform. Musk will need to carefully balance free speech with responsible content curation.
It’s a complex challenge, but one Musk will need to grapple with if he wants X to be a trusted and inclusive space for discussion.
This conservative commentator raises some valid points about the risks of misinformation and polarization on X under Musk. As an influential platform, X needs to maintain high standards of truthfulness and civility.
Interesting take on the X platform issues under Musk’s leadership. Seems like a complex situation with valid concerns around misinformation and content moderation. I’d be curious to see if Musk addresses these criticisms publicly.
It’s a challenging balance to strike between free speech and controlling the spread of harmful content. Musk will need to carefully navigate this as he reshapes the platform.
Antisemitism and extremism on social media are serious issues that need to be addressed. While Musk has touted free speech, he’ll have to ensure X doesn’t become a breeding ground for hateful ideologies.
Fact-checking and content moderation will be crucial, though Musk has expressed skepticism of such measures in the past. It will be interesting to see his approach evolve.