Welcome to the era of liberal paranoia about Twitter.
Meet the new panic, same as the old panic? New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) thinks that Elon Musk has it out for her. She’s been sharing a conspiracy theory about the new head of Twitter sabotaging her account because he didn’t like one of her tweets.
“Also my twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren’t working tonight, so I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire’s skin,” she tweeted on Wednesday. “Just a reminder that money will never by your way out of insecurity, folks.” AOC also repeated this accusation in an Instagram story.
But the idea that Musk ordered action against AOC’s account rests on zero evidence. And former Twitter staffer Michaël Jarjour said the glitch she mentioned was a bug. (Lest anyone think Jarjour is just carrying water for Musk, note that he was one of the staffers who was just let go.)
A number of other users have tweeted recently about being unable to see their notifications. My version of this is that Twitter last week started showing that I’m not blocking anyone, and I definitely am (also, for a few months now, it’s only shown me some of my notifications). So it seems some glitches like the one AOC experienced are going around.
Besides, tons of people have been tweeting criticism about Musk this week, and AOC’s contribution to this was hardly unique or particularly cutting. “One guy’s business plan for a $44 billion over-leveraged purchase is apparently to run around and individually ask people for $8,” she said, referencing Musk’s plan to start charging $8 per month for upgraded account features. “Remember that next time you question yourself or your qualifications.”
The idea that this mild and common criticism from AOC would so rankle Musk that he would personally oversee her account’s sabotage is both absurd and ridiculously narcissistic. (Inflated sense of importance? Check. Persecution complex? Check.) It also scarcely makes sense. If Musk really was out to punish her, why would he merely limit her view of notifications instead of hampering her ability to tweet?
Welcome to the era of liberal paranoia about Twitter, my friends.
For years, conservatives have spread self-aggrandizing and unfounded stories about how the liberal powers at Twitter are trying to censor them simply for being conservative. We’ve also seen Republicans explain many content moderation decisions they don’t like by invoking a theory that tech executives were deliberately trying to tip elections toward Democrats. While not every claim of unfair moderation is bunk, a lot of this has become a way for conservative politicians to perform persecution and rally their base against a shadowy, caricatured tech elite.
