Written By Grace Vaughn

As entertaining as it can be to witness a billionaire make a bad investment, I have watched in fear for the last several months as Elon Musk’s grand plans for Twitter unfolded. His takeover has involved implementing new algorithms, embracing teetering policy practices and even restoring suspended accounts. Though, my growing concern over the subject lies in the fact that the platform has become a news source in many people’s lives.

I recall a moment in my business course last year when the professor stopped mid-lecture to ask the class where they got their news. Hands rose, each student with a similar response, “I check what’s trending on Twitter” or “My Twitter timeline”.

This, of course, is a well-known reality for my generation. Seventy four percent of Gen Z consume their daily news from social media platforms in this nation, according to the American Press Institute.

The problem that arises under Musk’s leadership is whether or not the social media app can still be a trusted place to find out what’s happening in the world. Since his purchase, Twitter has seen an increase not only in misinformation but also the amount of attention being given to these accounts. An investigation by Science Feedback concluded that 490 “superspreader” accounts gained a 44% increase in interactions since his acquisition of the social network company.

Combating the spread of false information no longer appears to be a priority at the company. Users are left to decipher the truth on their own as misleading content becomes more and more difficult to detect.

The site also established a certain level of trust among users by implementing the blue check mark. Dishing it out to politicians, journalists and other public figures, the small tick symbol appearing next to a person’s handle grew to represent credibility, but that is no longer the case.

Users of any kind can now apply and purchase verification under Musk’s new “Twitter Blue” program. Requirements to be considered are much simpler than before, including being an active account and displaying a profile photo. It is worth considering the fact that users may very well continue to correlate this familiar sign with trustworthiness and authenticity.

This leads us to the question of journalists’ role in this issue. Twitter is a pivotal resource for reporters and outlets allowing them to promote work, break stories and connect with sources. Yet, Musk’s Twitter doesn’t seem interested in protecting them or maintaining a safe space for the news.

It may be tempting for journalists to switch to an alternative app in the near future, like Mastodon, as their verifications slip away and accounts get suspended. However, the hard truth is that many people continue to turn to Twitter for information.

If this is the case, I believe we need journalists engaged on the platform. We need them pushing out reliable information. We need them fact-checking others’ content for the sake of users seeking out the truth. It feels like our responsibility to fight against the messiness of the platform for a little while longer.

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