Popular Twitch and Kick streamer, Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel, recently found himself in a whirlwind of frustration due to Twitter's algorithm consistently showcasing Elon Musk's posts every time he refreshed his feed. The algorithm, which xQc dubbed as "busted," has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about preferential treatment.
Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter for a staggering $44 billion in April 2022, the platform underwent significant transformations. Rebranded as 'X,' Twitter revamped its verification process, underwent massive layoffs, and is in the process of reimagining its 'block' system.
Reports surfaced indicating that Musk allegedly instructed the platform's algorithm to prioritize his posts, allegedly boosting his tweets by a factor of 1,000 compared to others. This deliberate push for visibility has not gone unnoticed by users like xQc.
During a livestream on Kick on October 20, xQc's exasperation was palpable as he continuously encountered Musk's posts at the top of his feed. "Look, oh my god, I’m about to go schizo mode," he exclaimed, visibly frustrated by the relentless appearance of Musk's content. "Brother… On my phone, on my laptop, on my PC, on my alt account, I swear to god, every time I refresh, I get Elon Musk on my top page. That’s f**king busted."
His tirade culminated in a simple observation, "He buys the algorithm to favor himself. That’s so weird." While Musk dismissed initial reports as the actions of a disgruntled employee, attributing it to misinformation, users like xQc continue to witness Musk's dominance on their feeds.
Although Musk has not publicly acknowledged manipulating the algorithm in his favor, xQc firmly believes otherwise. While xQc has the option to 'mute' Musk to prevent his posts from appearing, the block feature, which has also undergone significant changes in 2024, remains an alternative.
The controversy surrounding Twitter's algorithm and its alleged bias towards Musk's posts continues to stir debate among users. As social media platforms evolve and adapt, the issue of transparency and fairness in content distribution remains a focal point for both creators and consumers.
