Firms Persist in Dissociating Themselves from X, Spurred by Elon Musk's Influence - Businesses are retracting their associations with X due to Elon Musk's influence.
In a survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, it has been revealed that many German companies are reducing their presence on Elon Musk's platform X, previously known as Twitter. The survey, which polled 602 companies with 20 or more employees, found that 58% of companies using X are posting less or not at all.
The reasons for this decrease in activity are twofold: concerns over Elon Musk's perceived political interference and regulatory issues. Specifically, in Germany, Musk has been viewed as interfering in the country's 2025 federal elections, which has raised political and public apprehension about the platform's objectivity and influence.
Additionally, there are regulatory concerns linked to Musk's management of the platform. The European Commission has been investigating X since December 2023 under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) for issues including algorithm-driven content moderation failures. More severe breaches could lead to substantial fines or even temporary blocking of the platform in EU countries.
For example, Poland is contemplating a future shutdown of X due to antisemitic chatbot posts and is signaling stricter enforcement of the DSA, which sets a precedent that alarmed German companies as well.
As a result, only 39% of companies intend to keep their profile on X, while 43% are considering deletion but have no concrete plans to do so. Only a third (32%) of companies are posting as much as before, and 3% have started posting after Musk's takeover. In contrast, 37% of companies do not advertise at all on X, and 4% do not publish anything on the platform.
Bernhard Rohleder, CEO of Bitkom, stated that many companies are keeping their distance when someone unites massive economic, political, and media power. He added that 74% of companies believe that people with as much influence on social media as Musk should not hold political offices, and 66% generally reject political offices for active leaders of large companies.
Overall, 27% of the companies surveyed still use X, compared to 32% in October 2023. These findings indicate a significant decrease in activity on Elon Musk's platform X among German companies. With concerns over political interference and regulatory risks, it remains to be seen how X will navigate these challenges in the future.
The Commission, in its investigation under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), is not only scrutinizing X for various issues but has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the advancements in technology and digitalization on the platform.
Moreover, as technology continues to play a significant role in shaping the digital landscape, concerns over political interference and regulatory risks on X, especially in Germany, are poised to influence the development and implementation of future technology-related policies and safeguards.
