In a surprising turn of events, social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has seen a significant increase in revenue despite its CEO Elon Musk’s recent provocations in the UK.
According to data from internet analytics firm Appfigures, users spent an estimated $12.7 million on X’s mobile app in July alone. This translates to approximately Rp199.4 billion.
Out of this amount, Elon and his team took home around $8.9 million (Rp139.7 billion) after Apple and Google took their respective cuts.
The App Store accounted for a whopping 77% of X’s revenue, while the Google Play Store contributed to the remaining 23%.
Interestingly, the United States emerged as the primary source of revenue for X, followed closely by Japan in second place.
X’s July revenue marked a notable 20% growth from the previous month (MoM), making it a remarkable comeback after months of declining revenue.
This achievement also represents an 8% increase from X’s highest-ever revenue recorded in March and a staggering 424% surge compared to January 2023.
Elon Musk’s Provocations
While his company was raking in the dough, Musk has been busy sparking controversy with his tweets and memes, particularly regarding racial tensions in the UK and white supremacy in the US.
The British government had previously called on social media platforms to take responsibility after a violent riot broke out in England following an attack on three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last month.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer blamed social media companies for allowing the spread of fake news that the attacker was an asylum seeker.
In one now-deleted tweet, Musk wrote that “civil war is inevitable” in the UK.
British Justice Minister Heidi Alexander described the tweet as “unacceptable”.
Musk, who also heads Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and Neuralink, has been actively promoting gun rights, unbridled free speech, and anti-immigrant sentiments on his platform.
Calls for Musk’s Arrest
Bruce Daisley, Twitter’s former vice president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, believes that Musk should be arrested for his provocations.
Daisley argues that the UK needs to “strengthen” its online safety laws and consider whether media regulator Ofcom is “fit to take swift action against individuals like Musk”.
According to Daisley, personal sanctions would be more effective in deterring executives than corporate fines.
This type of sanction could also impact Musk’s lifestyle as a billionaire tech mogul.
Conclusion
X’s revenue surge amidst Elon Musk’s provocations has raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the role of social media platforms in promoting hate speech and inciting violence.
As regulators and governments grapple with how to address this issue, one thing is clear: the consequences of unchecked online provocations can be severe and far-reaching.