Visegrád 24 Tweet Garners Over 100,000 Views Amid Scrutiny of News Aggregators

A recent tweet from the social media account Visegrád 24, posted on July 16, 2025, has accumulated over 104,900 views, highlighting the significant reach of this prominent news aggregator. While the specific content of the tweet was not immediately available, its substantial viewership underscores the platform's influence in disseminating information.

Visegrád 24, founded in January 2020, has rapidly grown in popularity, particularly during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, amassing over 1.3 million followers as of July 2024. The account, which describes itself as "aggregating and curating news, politics, and current affairs," has been referenced by various international media outlets.

Despite its wide reach, Visegrád 24 has faced considerable criticism, notably from Polish investigative journalism outlets like OKO.press and Visegrad Insight. These reports have characterized the account as a source of propaganda and misinformation, with some alleging ties to the Polish government. Researchers from the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public identified Visegrád 24 in October 2023 as one of the most influential Twitter (now X) accounts concerning the Gaza war, noting its tendency to post emotionally charged content and "decontextualized anger and violence."

The platform's founders have been identified as Polish journalist Adam Starzynski and South African-Polish content creator Stefan Tompson. Tompson, who identifies as a public relations expert rather than a journalist, has acknowledged that his agency received funding from the Polish National Foundation for various projects. This financial connection has fueled concerns about the platform's objectivity and potential as a government-funded propaganda tool, though the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied any direct connection.

The case of Visegrád 24 exemplifies the broader impact of social media news aggregators on public opinion. These platforms facilitate rapid information dissemination and can significantly influence public discourse. However, they also present challenges related to the spread of misinformation, the creation of echo chambers, and the potential for biased content to gain widespread traction. The instantaneous nature of social media means that unverified or misleading information can quickly go viral, shaping narratives before facts are fully established.