Social media platform X removes headlines from news articles, aggravating media groups

Social media platform X, run by the head of electric car maker Tesla and Space X, Elon Musk, has cast out headlines from news articles shared by users in another move likely to aggravate relations with media groups further.

Musk’s disdain for “legacy media”

The tycoon has long railed against the “legacy media” and claims X, formerly Twitter, is a better source of information.

“Aesthetic” reasons for the change

However, he said the latest change was for “aesthetic” reasons – news and other links now appear only as pictures with no accompanying text.

Musk’s controversial reign at X

Musk took over Twitter last year in a $44 billion deal and has since renamed it X, sacked thousands of staff and drawn criticism for allowing banned conspiracy theorists and extremists back on the platform, sending advertisers fleeing.

Conflict with mainstream outlets

He has also banned – and reinstated – various journalists with mainstream outlets, including the Washington Post and CNN, as well as appearing to delay posts from accounts, including the New York Times.

Media groups abandon X

Some media groups have stopped posting to X altogether.

Legal case over copyright breaches

Agence France-Presse (AFP) and other French news outlets launched a legal case in early August, accusing X of copyright breaches.

Musk’s disregard for legacy news

“I almost never read legacy news anymore,” Musk posted on Tuesday.

Musk’s promise to improve aesthetics

“What’s the point of reading 1,000 words about something that was already posted on X several days ago?” When the link changes were first mooted in August, he posted: “This is coming from me directly. Will greatly improve the esthetics.”

Recent changes introduced gradually

The most recent changes have been introduced gradually this week.

Pictures instead of headlines

Instead of seeing a headline along with a picture, users now see only a picture with a small watermark.

Raising concerns about trustworthiness

Some users have already commented that it is now difficult to distinguish between news and other kinds of information, which is likely to raise questions about the trustworthiness of the site.

Higher ratio of misinformation and disinformation

In September, the European Commission said X had a higher ratio of misinformation and disinformation than any other social media.