Alex Jones returns to X, joining other conspiracy-driven journalists
Alex Jones Returns to X After Online Poll
American broadcaster Alex Jones made a triumphant comeback to X, formerly known as Twitter, this weekend. The platform’s CEO, Elon Musk, held an online poll to gauge public opinion on Jones’ return, and the people have spoken.
The people have spoken and so it shall be
Jones wasted no time in making his presence felt. His first post since his 2018 ban was a “repost” from social media influencer Andrew Tate.
“We’re so back,” Tate wrote.
A Controversial Decision
This decision marks a stunning reversal from Musk’s previous declaration in November 2020 that Jones would never be allowed back on the platform.
Legacy press outlets were left in disbelief over the “conspiracy theorist’s” return, especially after Jones was ordered to pay over $1 billion in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
Headlines React
“Elon Musk restores account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on X,” headlined The Washington Post.
“Elon Musk Brings Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Back to X,” read another headline in The New York Times.
“Elon Musk restores X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones,” declared NBC News.
“‘The people have spoken’: Elon Musk restores the X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones after poll,” a headline from CNN read.
The Hypocrisy of Legacy Media
If spreading conspiracies were grounds for being banned from social media, these legacy media outlets would have been wiped out long ago. Despite routinely spreading lies, The Washington Post, New York Times, NBC, and CNN continue to operate with impunity, propped up and protected by the government, academia, and Silicon Valley.
Did any of these outlets ever find those Russian pee tapes featuring former President Donald Trump? Or the smoking gun evidence to indict the Republican president as a covert Kremlin agent? The answer is no.
It’s no wonder that American distrust in the corporate press is at an all-time high.
[READ:[READ:Don’t Let The Washington Post Get Away With Memory-Holing Its Anti-Kavanaugh Campaign]
But Jones wasn’t deplatformed for spreading false information. He was removed from Twitter in 2018 simply because he yelled at CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy.
“I was taken down not because we lie but because we tell the truth and because we were popular,” Jones said on his own program. “And then when we ran into Oliver Darcy, who is the secret police captain, who admits he goes around and gets people like Infowars taken off other platforms, because we confronted that monster that has abused us and lied about us, attacked our speech, because of that they took us down.”
In other words, Jones got taken down because he yelled at CNN.
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
What concerns does the return of Alex Jones to X platforms raise about the influence and power of individuals like Elon Musk in the governance of social media platforms, and the potential lack of accountability and transparency in their decision-making processes
Hemselves banned from social media for their false reporting on the Iraq War, or for perpetuating the false narrative of Russian collusion in the 2016 election? Of course not.
The decision to bring back Alex Jones, while controversial, highlights the hypocrisy of these legacy media outlets. It raises questions about the role of free speech in the online world and the power that platforms like X hold in determining who is allowed to participate in public discourse.
Many argue that censorship of any kind is a dangerous path to go down, as it opens the door to arbitrary decisions and the suppression of dissenting voices. While Jones has been heavily criticized for his conspiracy theories and false claims, some believe that it is up to individuals to make informed decisions about the content they consume, rather than relying on platforms to dictate what is acceptable or not.
Furthermore, the online poll conducted by Elon Musk brings into question the legitimacy of such decision-making processes. Can the opinion of the majority be trusted when it comes to matters of free speech and controversial figures? Or does it simply validate the views of those who are the loudest or most organized?
This latest development also raises concerns about the influence and power that individuals like Musk hold over social media platforms. As the CEO of X, his decision to reinstate Jones could be seen as a reflection of his own personal beliefs or agenda. It highlights the lack of accountability and transparency in the governance of these platforms, where the actions of a few individuals can have far-reaching consequences for public discourse.
Ultimately, the return of Alex Jones to X sparks a larger conversation about the balance between free speech and responsible content moderation in the digital age. While individuals like Jones may push the boundaries of acceptable discourse, it is crucial that we uphold the principles of free expression and avoid the pitfalls of censorship.
Only time will tell how this decision will impact the future of online platforms and the broader conversation around free speech and democracy. But one thing is clear - the debate is far from over.
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