An unorthodox group of 7 users is now the most dominant news source for information about the Israel-Hamas war on X (formerly Twitter), according to a new report from the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. Dubbed the “New Elites” of X, the report found these users racked up 1.6 billion views on the platform in the first three days of the conflict, making them far more influential than traditional news outlets including the New York Times, CNN, and the BBC. Many of the accounts have been promoted by Elon Musk in the past.
The research comes amid a broader conversation about the influence of social media in a time of crisis. Immediately after the Hamas attacks, the platform was reportedly flooded with misinformation about the war, drawing criticism from regulators and calls for other platforms to fill the news void left in Musk’s wake. The University of Washington’s report was published the same day as a NewsGuard study which found that X’s blue-checked verified users produce 74% of misinformation on the platform, which then spreads to the rest of the internet.
My fear is that we’re going to see a modern version of Sherman’s March to the Sea with the effects of planes and tanks making it even worse. I’m wondering if there will still be a single structure that isn’t a hospital standing. And they’ve already dropped flyers into Northern Gaza stating that since we’ve given you time to evacuate, anyone still remaining is going to be labeled Hamas meaning they’re going to be executed because the odds are incredibly low they’re taking anyone alive. From Sept. 12th until Jan. 2002, we had a lot of normal, rational people in this country talking seriously about Afghanistan being flattened and/or glowing from nukes. We had sensible people who didn’t do that (mainly because Darth Cheney wanted to invade Iraq and make a ton of money for his company). Israel hasn’t shown to have those people.
I’m not sure if the message is pity Hamas or whack them wherever they pop up their heads with overwhelming force. Nevertheless, with that sized hammer it is end of game.
It would be the most humane thing. Sorry, in a situation like this, end it, don’t allow years of conflict. It took six weeks for the United States just to prepare to clear Fallujah, and that was after we had all our equipment over there. Gaza is like three times larger and more dense. So the quickest Israel can start this is weeks away.
Good luck trying to take out Hamas. They won’t hesitate to use civilians as human shields either then blame Israel when they get killed. I fear we’re seeing the start of World War III over there
It wouldn’t surprise me a bit that if the Russians are found to be a major player in fomenting and enabling the Hamas attack that started this mess. It would benefit them a lot if we took our eyes off Ukraine.
Hamas mercilessly targetted and murdered over a thousand civilians and is holding hundreds more hostage, and has and is constantly trying to murder more. Israel only targets terrorists and does everything in its power to avoid hitting civilians. One side is trying to murder Jews and the other is only trying to defend itself. Inevitably there will be a lot of casualties, especially with Hamas using Gazans as human shields, but Israel has a right and a mandate to do everything in its power to wipe out Hamas.
Reposting from someone else: I get tired of people trying to establish an equivalency between Israel and Hamas. Hamas invaded Israel, murdering, raping, beheading babies, ripping babies from the mothers womb and killing both, tossing hand grenades into shelters, burning people alive and more. These were not collateral damage, these were purposeful act of terror against civilians not military. Gaza has been In Palestinian hands and has existed as a city/state since 2005 when Israel evacuated the city and turned it over to the PLA.
The Israeli government doesn’t need to “stoke”their citizens to “maintain control”. Hamas does that for the Israelis by committing these acts of atrocities. Israel treats the Palestinian people far better than does Hamas.
A reminder: Hamas exists solely for the utter destruction of Israel and the eradication of the Jews, genocide. As does Iran, Hezbollah and other Muslim terrorist groups. This is not my opinion, it’s fact. This is their mission statement and they have said so repeatedly in public and in broadcast.
olddude1953 9 months ago
Would anyone care to make the acquaintance of the seven “persons” who determine opinions about Gaza/Israel/Palestine?
https://gizmodo.com/these-accounts-control-twitters-israel-hamas-news-1850946257
An unorthodox group of 7 users is now the most dominant news source for information about the Israel-Hamas war on X (formerly Twitter), according to a new report from the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. Dubbed the “New Elites” of X, the report found these users racked up 1.6 billion views on the platform in the first three days of the conflict, making them far more influential than traditional news outlets including the New York Times, CNN, and the BBC. Many of the accounts have been promoted by Elon Musk in the past.
The research comes amid a broader conversation about the influence of social media in a time of crisis. Immediately after the Hamas attacks, the platform was reportedly flooded with misinformation about the war, drawing criticism from regulators and calls for other platforms to fill the news void left in Musk’s wake. The University of Washington’s report was published the same day as a NewsGuard study which found that X’s blue-checked verified users produce 74% of misinformation on the platform, which then spreads to the rest of the internet.
* * * * * *Believe NOTHING on social media. Nothing at all.
Yontrop 9 months ago
It won’t be that easy.
DrDon1 9 months ago
Who else has experienced ‘difficulty’ in getting GoComics to ‘accept’ a comment?
ibFrank 9 months ago
He’s only going give a small tap.
braindead Premium Member 9 months ago
No big deal. After all, it’s not as if Palestinians are human beings, right?
Just to be clear: this is sarcasm.
wildthing 9 months ago
The only ones I have sympathy for are the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
smartman 9 months ago
My fear is that we’re going to see a modern version of Sherman’s March to the Sea with the effects of planes and tanks making it even worse. I’m wondering if there will still be a single structure that isn’t a hospital standing. And they’ve already dropped flyers into Northern Gaza stating that since we’ve given you time to evacuate, anyone still remaining is going to be labeled Hamas meaning they’re going to be executed because the odds are incredibly low they’re taking anyone alive. From Sept. 12th until Jan. 2002, we had a lot of normal, rational people in this country talking seriously about Afghanistan being flattened and/or glowing from nukes. We had sensible people who didn’t do that (mainly because Darth Cheney wanted to invade Iraq and make a ton of money for his company). Israel hasn’t shown to have those people.
Kurtass Premium Member 9 months ago
“Never fight a land war in Asia”. I would like to add, Never get in the middle of a religious war in the Middle East.
tee929 9 months ago
More like, “Whack ’em All”…..
jvscanlan Premium Member 9 months ago
Never forget after Bibi gets the hostages killed
Kevin Jacobs 9 months ago
Needs more blood on the hammer to be accurate.
lindz.coop Premium Member 9 months ago
How many kids have to die to kill one Hamas terrorist (dressed in civilian clothing, so nobody knows what they even look like)?
Al Fresco, the Librarian 9 months ago
I’m not sure if the message is pity Hamas or whack them wherever they pop up their heads with overwhelming force. Nevertheless, with that sized hammer it is end of game.
FreyjaRN Premium Member 9 months ago
He’ll pound them into another incarnation.
gopher gofer 9 months ago
netanyahu has always preferred the sledgehammer approach. that’s what led to the current mess…
Jack7528 9 months ago
It would be the most humane thing. Sorry, in a situation like this, end it, don’t allow years of conflict. It took six weeks for the United States just to prepare to clear Fallujah, and that was after we had all our equipment over there. Gaza is like three times larger and more dense. So the quickest Israel can start this is weeks away.
Dapperdan61 Premium Member 9 months ago
Good luck trying to take out Hamas. They won’t hesitate to use civilians as human shields either then blame Israel when they get killed. I fear we’re seeing the start of World War III over there
AtomicForce91 Premium Member 9 months ago
If this is what it takes to stop them from invading and raping women…
Zebrastripes 9 months ago
Hamas are truly moles…check out the tunnels they slither in
oldchas 9 months ago
It wouldn’t surprise me a bit that if the Russians are found to be a major player in fomenting and enabling the Hamas attack that started this mess. It would benefit them a lot if we took our eyes off Ukraine.
Plumb.Bob Premium Member 9 months ago
It is more like hitting an ant hill. No matter how hard you hit a new one will form.
YehudaReiss 9 months ago
Hamas mercilessly targetted and murdered over a thousand civilians and is holding hundreds more hostage, and has and is constantly trying to murder more. Israel only targets terrorists and does everything in its power to avoid hitting civilians. One side is trying to murder Jews and the other is only trying to defend itself. Inevitably there will be a lot of casualties, especially with Hamas using Gazans as human shields, but Israel has a right and a mandate to do everything in its power to wipe out Hamas.
YehudaReiss 8 months ago
Reposting from someone else: I get tired of people trying to establish an equivalency between Israel and Hamas. Hamas invaded Israel, murdering, raping, beheading babies, ripping babies from the mothers womb and killing both, tossing hand grenades into shelters, burning people alive and more. These were not collateral damage, these were purposeful act of terror against civilians not military. Gaza has been In Palestinian hands and has existed as a city/state since 2005 when Israel evacuated the city and turned it over to the PLA.
The Israeli government doesn’t need to “stoke”their citizens to “maintain control”. Hamas does that for the Israelis by committing these acts of atrocities. Israel treats the Palestinian people far better than does Hamas.
A reminder: Hamas exists solely for the utter destruction of Israel and the eradication of the Jews, genocide. As does Iran, Hezbollah and other Muslim terrorist groups. This is not my opinion, it’s fact. This is their mission statement and they have said so repeatedly in public and in broadcast.