Elon Musk, a prominent figure in the tech industry, has been known to share misleading claims about the success of Twitter, particularly in comparison to other social media giants like Facebook and Instagram. While Musk’s admiration for Twitter is well-documented, it is crucial to analyze the data he presents with a critical eye.
One key point of contention is Musk’s assertion that Twitter is beating Meta’s apps in terms of usage. However, a closer look at the data reveals that these claims are not entirely accurate. The data Musk references is based on web traffic measurements from SimilarWeb, which only account for visits to x.com on a web browser. This fails to capture the majority of Twitter’s user base, as approximately 88.55% of Twitter users log in via a mobile device.
Another area of concern is Musk’s claim that Twitter is the number one news app, based on its position in the App Store charts. While Twitter does have news content, it is primarily a social platform and cannot be classified solely as a news app. This categorization was a strategic move by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to boost the app’s growth narrative by shifting it out of the competitive social media segment. As a result, Twitter has been listed in the News category on the App Store for eight years, despite not being a dedicated news app.
Despite Musk’s assertions, the reality is that Twitter has not seen significant growth in its user base. While there has been an increase in monthly active users, the daily active user count has remained stagnant since November 2022. Additionally, reports indicate that Twitter’s revenue is down by around 50% compared to the previous year. These figures paint a less rosy picture of Twitter’s current status than Musk’s rhetoric suggests.
Musk often highlights Twitter’s daily user seconds as a key measure of engagement. However, recent data shows a decrease in the average daily user seconds per user, from 30 minutes in March to 24 minutes in Q2. This decline raises doubts about Twitter’s ability to retain user interest and engagement over time.
While Elon Musk and his supporters may continue to praise Twitter’s success, it is essential to scrutinize the data and claims being made. The discrepancies between Musk’s narrative and the reality of Twitter’s performance highlight the importance of approaching such assertions with a critical mindset. Twitter’s apparent lack of significant growth and declining revenue indicate that the platform may not be as successful as Musk would have the public believe. It is imperative to look beyond the surface and examine the facts before drawing conclusions about Twitter’s true standing in the social media landscape.
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