BASTROP, USA – Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media platform X, faced criticism from conservative users on Friday after at least 14 prominent right-wing accounts reported losing access to premium features on the platform.
The affected accounts, some with millions of followers, accused Musk of silencing dissent in retaliation for their criticism of his pro-immigration stance.
According to an NBC News review published on Saturday, December 28, 2024, these accounts no longer had blue verification badges, which grant access to monetisation features like subscription earnings and advertising revenue sharing.
The affected accounts, which remained active, expressed concern about their ability to continue engaging with their audiences without monetisation.
Musk’s Policies Under Fire
Musk purchased X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2022, citing a mission to promote free expression and address allegations of bias against conservative voices.
His recent actions, however, have been interpreted by some as a contradiction to these principles.
On Thursday evening, Musk posted what he called “a reminder” on X, explaining that the platform’s algorithm reduces the visibility of accounts that are frequently blocked or muted by other credible users.
“If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” Musk wrote.
The post, intended as a clarification, instead fuelled further accusations of censorship, with critics alleging that Musk was shadowbanning conservative voices—limiting their visibility without formal notification.
ConservativeOG Leads the Outcry
Many of the affected accounts are affiliated with the media brand ConservativeOG.
Preston Parra, the 23-year-old influencer leading the group, characterised the loss of premium features as a “political takedown.”
“If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs who didn’t get bullied enough in high school, steal our country, they’re mistaken,” Parra said in a text message.
He accused Musk of being a “Trojan horse” within the conservative movement.
High-Profile Figures Impacted
Among the affected accounts are Ryan Fournier, co-founder of Students for Trump, and far-right activist Laura Loomer, both with substantial followings.
Loomer alleged that her account was demonetised shortly after criticising Musk’s stance on tech industry visas.
“Looks like Elon Musk is going to be silencing me for supporting original Trump immigration policies,” Loomer wrote on X, calling the actions “retaliation.”
Musk dismissed Loomer’s criticism on Thursday, writing, “Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.”
Hours later, her account reportedly lost access to premium features.
Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2024
Broader Context
The controversy comes amid an escalating debate within conservative circles over immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump.
Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, has faced criticism for his pro-immigration views alongside other tech leaders like Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been tapped for a role in Trump’s administration.
Andrew Torba, CEO of the far-right platform Gab, invited disaffected X users to join his platform, criticising Musk for what he called “silencing others.”
A History of Free Speech Tensions
This is not the first time Musk has faced allegations of suppressing speech on X.
In 2022, the platform suspended several journalists for reporting on Musk, and more recently, it temporarily banned accounts supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.
Neither Musk nor X responded to requests for comment on the latest accusations.
As tensions escalate, the platform’s handling of political discourse continues to draw scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum.
