Journalists Who Report on Elon Musk Suspended From Twitter Without Explanation

Reporters from various press outlets found themselves — in some cases permanently — locked out of the social media site Thursday.

By Steve Huff

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Without a clear explanation, Twitter began suspending the accounts of several journalists Thursday evening, including reporters from CNN, the Washington Post, Mashable, and the New York Times.

If the accounts had one thing in common, they were primarily journalists who covered tech and frequently reported on Twitter's owner, Elon Musk. Jason Kint of Digital Content Next, a trade association representing digital media companies, made a public list of the suspended accounts available here. It includes the following:

  • Independent journalist Aaron Rupar
  • CNN's Donie O'Sullivan
  • Drew Harwell, of the Washington Post
  • Former MSNBC host and pundit Keith Olbermann
  • Mashable's Matt Binder
  • Micah Lee of The Intercept
  • Ryan Mac, New York Times
  • Independent journalist Tony Webster

Elon Musk appeared to explain the suspensions in a pair of tweets.

Musk was referencing, in part, the suspended journalists reporting on Twitter suspending @elonjet, the account of the college student who tracked the comings and goings of the billionaire's private jet. The Tesla CEO later tweeted the following:

In the second tweet, Musk alluded to what's known as "The Streisand Effect," named after singer Barbra Streisand, who in 2003 attempted to suppress photographs of her home by suing the photographer. The lawsuit drew widespread attention to the photos. As a result, they were viewed by far more people than they would have been if the suit had not been filed. The Streisand Effect happens when attempts to suppress information have the unintended consequence of publicizing the information more widely.

The Streisand Effect demonstrates two things pertinent to Musk's fame: the power of the internet to disseminate information and how hard it can be to control the spread of information once it is released.

Twitter has also suspended the official account of rival social media platform Mastodon after it tweeted that the @Elonjet account was still available there.

However, as of late Thursday, the Twitter accounts of rivals Facebook, Tribel Social, and Tumblr owner Automattic, as well as upstart Post.News — which has yet to tweet — were still active.

Steve Huff

Entrepreneur Staff

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business Solutions

Learn to Build a ChatGPT Bot for Only $30

If you want to see what AI can do for your business, grab this course bundle today.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Health & Wellness

5 Essential Steps to Expand Your Vision and Start Living Your Dream Life

It's time to break free from your comfort zone and expand your vision. When you refuse to settle for a mediocre life, you can start building a life you love.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas To Start Right Now

To start one of these home-based businesses, you don't need a lot of funding -- just energy, passion and the drive to succeed.