Last month, Huggies, the renowned American diaper brand, found itself embroiled in a wave of unfounded pedophilia allegations. The source of this disinformation has been traced back to an influencer who had previously been banned from Twitter but was reinstated under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Musk, who acquired the social media platform for $44 billion, vehemently disputes claims that misinformation has proliferated since the acquisition. However, experts suggest that substantial cuts to content moderation, following mass layoffs, have led to an environment where conspiracy theories can thrive, exacerbated by a new paid verification program.
Since Musk’s takeover, a large number of accounts—estimated to be over 67,000—have been restored, including several individuals banned for serious infractions such as inciting violence, harassment, and spreading disinformation.
Among those reinstated is Vincent Kennedy, a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory who had been banned after the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Kennedy instigated a conspiracy theory in late March that resulted in Huggies facing severe backlash.
He tweeted an image of a diaper inspired by Disney’s “The Lion King,” highlighting certain design features that he falsely claimed were coded signals recognized by the FBI as indicative of pedophilia. Kennedy’s tweet, which suggested an awakening to hidden truths, went viral, garnering millions of views.
The unfounded claims rapidly spread across various social media platforms, including TikTok, prompting Huggies—owned by Kimberly-Clark—to receive a barrage of hate messages and boycott calls. In reply to the allegations, Huggies reinforced its commitment to child safety, stating that their designs are intended to be “fun and playful.”
However, this statement only fueled further amplification of the conspiracy theory among its proponents.
– ‘Real-world harm’ –
“There’s no question that the surge of harmful content from those who have been reinstated is driving real-world harm,” said Jesse Lehrich, co-founder of the advocacy group Accountable Tech. “Restoring individuals connected to the January 6 insurrection and giving a platform to known extremists during a period of rising hate has tangible consequences.”
Travis Brown, a Berlin-based software developer, has compiled a list of more than 67,000 Twitter accounts that have been reinstated since Musk took over. He noted that this list is likely incomplete and that the true number could be higher.
In a recent interview, Musk challenged assertions that misinformation and hate speech have surged since his takeover. He accused the interviewer of dishonesty when confronted with these claims.
Despite Musk’s denials, experts have cited numerous examples of such content returning to the platform, including posts from anti-vaccination activists and white supremacist groups. Following his reinstatement, election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell encouraged his followers to take extreme actions against electronic voting machines.
Furthermore, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), anti-LGBTQ+ narratives have spiked, notably driven by conspiracy theorist James Lindsay, who recently returned to the platform after a prior permanent ban.
– ‘Hateful rhetoric’ –
“The reinstatements contribute to an increase in hateful discourse, leading to a culture that tolerates misogyny, racism, and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments on Twitter,” stated Nora Benavidez from Free Press.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of CCDH, argued that Twitter is profiting from hate at unprecedented levels, with a few accounts fueling the “grooming” conspiracy narrative generating substantial advertising revenue. However, experts warn that the strategy is self-defeating, as it is unlikely to counterbalance dwindling advertising income.
The ongoing upheaval under Musk’s management has deterred major advertisers, with predictions indicating a 28 percent drop in Twitter’s advertising revenue this year due to a lack of trust in Musk.
As a potential remedy, Musk is promoting a paid verification program named Twitter Blue, available for $8. However, many users leveraging this system include those spreading misinformation, according to watchdog NewsGuard.
Musk’s decision to reinstate controversial accounts appears driven by a desire for profit and a misguided interpretation of free speech, according to critics. They suggest this approach transforms Twitter into a platform that rewards harmful language rather than encouraging constructive discourse.
“This strategy stifles meaningful engagement instead of fostering open dialogue,” Benavidez concluded.
