Elon Musk's X App Global Outage Sends Shockwaves Through China
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, recently faced a widespread outage that left users worldwide frustrated and prompted a surge of complaints and humorous memes, particularly in the United States. What made this incident stand out was its unexpected impact on users in China, a country renowned for its strict internet regulations and limitations on Western social media access.
The outage triggered an interesting turn of events on China's microblogging site, Weibo, where "Twitter down" quickly became the top trending hashtag. The unusual focus on a platform not directly accessible in mainland China became the centerpiece of discussions for over two hours, garnering a remarkable 190 million views. Weibo users contributed a substantial 50 pages of posts and thousands of comments to the hashtag.
Despite Twitter being banned in China, it, along with X, remains popular among the Chinese public. Weibo and WeChat, the country's dominant social media platforms, enforce stringent registration requirements and censorship algorithms, creating an environment where freedom of expression is stifled.
The Chinese government's firm control over internet regulations is evident in its restriction of access to Western social media apps, viewing them as potential challenges to its narrative. WeChat, boasting 1.3 billion monthly active users, holds sway in China's online landscape, while complaints on Weibo reflect the public's desire to bypass the "Great Firewall" using official VPNs.
The outage of X, previously known as Twitter, in mainland China left many Chinese netizens surprised. Financial influencer Xiyangsimu, with 1.4 million Weibo followers, humorously questioned the focus on a platform inaccessible in China, contemplating the need to investigate those bypassing the Great Firewall.
During the outage, X displayed a placeholder message, warmly welcoming users and showcasing its features, earning praise from Weibo CEO Wang Gaofei. Gaofei acknowledged the message's superiority over Weibo's version in similar circumstances, injecting a lighthearted acknowledgment of competition into the narrative.
In response to inquiries about the outage, X sent a succinct email stating, "Busy now, please check back later." The platform was eventually restored globally, impacting users in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, and other countries. Over 77,000 U.S. users faced issues during the peak of the outage, contributing to the incident's global significance.
Elon Musk's ownership of X, acquired in 2022, added an intriguing dimension to the outage. Musk had recently touted the platform's "strong growth," citing a 22.3% increase in site traffic in November compared to the previous year. While the X outage was temporary, it has once again highlighted the complexities of internet regulations, censorship, and the global repercussions of social media disruptions. Users and industry experts alike are left contemplating the resilience of digital platforms in an era of constant connectivity.