Elon Musk Alleges 'Staggering Magnitude of Legacy Media Lies,' Advocates Independent Research

Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), recently asserted that the "magnitude of legacy media lies is staggering," encouraging individuals to conduct their own research to uncover what he described as widespread misinformation. In a post on X, Musk stated, > "As soon as anyone does the slightest bit of research beyond what the legacy (fka mainstream) news reports, the magnitude of legacy media lies is staggering. Do some research and it will feel like waking up from a fever dream." This statement reflects his ongoing and vocal criticism of traditional news outlets.

Musk has consistently accused what he terms "legacy media" of bias, selective reporting, and outright falsehoods. He has frequently claimed that these organizations "lie relentlessly or simply ignore major stories that don’t fit their collectively decided narrative," advocating for X as a platform where "people decide the narrative" and "Community Notes corrects everyone." This perspective positions X as a more transparent and fact-checked alternative to established news sources.

His critique extends to specific incidents and allegations of financial ties. Musk previously labeled the Associated Press as "Associated Propaganda" following its coverage of a Tesla Cybertruck incident, arguing that reports misrepresented the event. Furthermore, his "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" has investigated government funding to various media entities, including Reuters, AP, Politico, and The New York Times, questioning the nature and transparency of these payments.

Musk's stance underscores a broader debate about media credibility and the evolving landscape of information dissemination. By declaring "You are the media now" to X users, he champions a decentralized model of news, where crowdsourced information and direct engagement are presented as antidotes to perceived traditional media shortcomings. This ongoing narrative from a prominent figure like Musk continues to shape public discourse around trust in news.