The online world has recently been a breeding ground for antisemitism – a type of discrimination and prejudice targeted at Jewish people. This has been driven, in major part, by tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter. However, one figure stands out as having made a particularly prominent contribution to this rising hatred: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Musk has come under scrutiny for a variety of actions that have been interpreted as antisemitic, such as his controversial tweet in 2018 proclaiming his “love for the Jews” (which, although intended as a joke, came off as incredibly offensive given the context of increasing antisemitism). His later tweet in 2020 “X = lol” was likewise interpreted by many as antisemitic, as it was seen as alluding to Hitler’s “Sieg heil” slogan.
Musk’s influence on amplifying antisemitism is revealed by an analysis of Twitter posts by Dr. Philip Howard of the Oxford Internet Institute. His research found that posts on Twitter containing antisemitic content rose significantly following the publication of Musk’s tweets. Although other tech leaders (such as Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey) may have also contributed to the problem, Musk appears to have been the biggest catalyst for the spike in online antisemitism.
Although Musk has yet to respond to the allegations on social media, he has recently taken steps to tackle the issue. In January 2021, he announced his partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, an organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism. This shows that despite his past behavior, Musk is now attempting to help undo some of the damage he may have caused.
At a time when hate crimes against the Jewish community are soaring worldwide, Musk’s example to combat these issues online is not to be forgotten. His acknowledgement of the problem and his willingness to partner with groups like the ADL can help set an example for other tech giants to follow, while at the same time raising awareness of the issue as a whole. Hopefully through his influence and newfound commitment to opposing antisemitism, an online environment of tolerance and acceptance will be able to be fostered.