Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter in 2022 has resulted in a significant exodus of academics from the platform, a recent study has revealed. A team of researchers at the European University Institute in Italy conducted an investigation after noticing a trend of academics leaving Twitter, now known as X, following Musk’s acquisition of the company.
The study, titled ‘The vibes are off: did Elon Musk push academics off Twitter?’, focused on over 15,000 academic accounts from various fields like economics, political science, sociology, and psychology. Kevin Munger, an assistant professor at the European University Institute, who led the research, highlighted the importance of Twitter as a platform for academic communication and networking, particularly among social scientists.
The researchers found a noticeable decrease in the number of active academic accounts on Twitter, with remaining users showing reduced engagement. This shift was attributed to the changes implemented by Musk since taking over Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022. These changes included staff layoffs, reinstating suspended accounts, altering the verification process, and the rise of misinformation on the platform, affecting the overall user experience referred to as ‘vibes’ in the study.
Moreover, a separate study discovered that modifications to Twitter’s verification system have contributed to polarisation and the creation of online echo chambers. The new verification system allows anyone to pay for verification, which amplifies the reach of their posts. This finding underscores the role of ideologues and verified users in shaping the dissemination of information and opinions on social media networks.
Henrique Ferraz de Arruda, a computer scientist at George Mason University who led the verification system study, highlighted how verified users can influence the formation and reinforcement of echo chambers by reaching a larger audience with their posts. The study, ‘Verified users on social media networks drive polarisation and the formation of echo chambers’, was recently published in the journal iScience.
Overall, the research sheds light on the impact of Musk’s ownership of Twitter on academics’ engagement with the platform, demonstrating the ripple effects of significant changes in social media dynamics. The findings underscore the evolving landscape of online interaction and information dissemination, particularly within academic circles.