Three Years On: Libs of TikTok Celebrates Elon Musk's X Acquisition Amidst Content Moderation Shift

The prominent conservative social media account, Libs of TikTok, recently marked the three-year anniversary of Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, by expressing profound gratitude to the platform's owner. In a post shared on the platform, Libs of TikTok stated, "> Three years ago. Thank you Elon Musk! We appreciate you more than you can ever imagine!" The tweet highlights the significant impact Musk's leadership has had on the social media landscape, particularly for accounts that advocate for conservative viewpoints.

Elon Musk finalized his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter on October 27, 2022, taking the company private with a stated mission to uphold "free speech absolutism." This vision resonated strongly with many conservatives who felt that the platform's previous management had disproportionately censored right-leaning voices and content. The acquisition was widely celebrated by this demographic, including Libs of TikTok, which had previously faced temporary suspensions under Twitter's former content moderation policies.

Musk's tenure has ushered in a series of transformative changes, including the controversial rebranding of the platform to X in July 2023. Under his ownership, the company has significantly altered its content moderation approach, leading to the reinstatement of numerous accounts that had been previously banned. These policy shifts and the direct engagement from Musk with accounts like Libs of TikTok have been viewed by supporters as a restoration of open discourse.

However, the changes have also drawn considerable scrutiny and criticism. Civil rights organizations and media analysts have voiced concerns over a reported increase in hate speech, misinformation, and harassment on the platform since the acquisition. The ongoing evolution of X under Musk's leadership continues to be a central point of debate regarding online expression and platform governance in the digital age.