Liverpool Mayor Warns Against Misinformation on Platform

In the wake of recent riots in the Liverpool city region, Labour Mayor Steve Rotheram has called for politicians and the public to consider a mass exodus from Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. Rotheram, who has over 75,000 followers on the platform, linked the spread of misinformation on X to the unrest, particularly following the tragic stabbing of three girls in Southport. He emphasized the need for a different platform, questioning how X’s algorithms amplify hate speech and misinformation. Rotheram's concerns were echoed by Labour MP Dawn Butler, who criticized Musk's online behavior for emboldening far-right groups. Butler expressed her intention to explore alternative platforms, citing Musk's sharing of misinformation and provocative posts as dangerous and irresponsible. Rotheram acknowledged that while X did not directly cause the riots, it played a significant role in inciting violence through the dissemination of false narratives, particularly regarding the identity of the suspect in the Southport incident. The unrest was reportedly fueled by far-right activists who falsely claimed a Muslim asylum seeker was responsible for the stabbings. Rotheram warned that X could become a tool for extremist groups if left unchecked, urging social media companies to take responsibility or face government intervention. In response to the growing discontent with X, the platform Bluesky reported a significant increase in signups in the UK, suggesting that users are actively seeking alternatives. The surge in activity indicates a potential shift away from Musk’s platform as individuals look for safer communication spaces.