Inside the World of X Users Sharing Election Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories for Profit

The BBC has uncovered a disturbing trend on social media platform X, where users are reportedly being paid thousands of dollars to share election misinformation, AI-generated images, and unfounded conspiracy theories. These users are part of networks that re-share each other’s content multiple times a day to boost their reach and revenue on the site.

Some of these users claim to earn from a couple of hundred to thousands of dollars from their own and other accounts. They coordinate sharing each other’s posts on forums and group chats to help each other out. These networks support various political figures, including Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and have been contacted by US politicians seeking supportive posts.

X recently changed its rules to calculate payments based on engagement from premium users rather than the number of ads under posts. This change has raised concerns about incentivizing users to post provocative claims, whether true or not, at a critical moment for US politics.

The BBC compared the reported earnings of these X users with their expected earnings based on views, followers, and interactions and found them credible. Misleading posts shared by these networks include claims of election fraud and extreme allegations against presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

These false and misleading posts have spilled over to other social media sites with larger audiences, such as Facebook and TikTok. Some users create doctored images and spread unfounded conspiracy theories, influencing political discourse.

While X claims to prioritize protecting the user’s voice, it has faced criticism for not having clear guidelines on misinformation. The platform labels manipulated media and has a feature for fact-checking, but it remains unclear how effective these measures are in combating misinformation.

As the US election approaches, the impact of these misleading posts on voters is a significant concern. Social media platforms like X could play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, highlighting the importance of addressing misinformation and promoting accurate information.