Twitter Claims 99% of Its Content Is Healthy, Internet Rolls Eyes

pcmag.com:

As it struggles to win back advertisers, Twitter is boldly claiming that over 99% of the content you see on the site is "healthy."

Company reps—including new CEO Linda Yaccarino—publicly pushed back on a Bloomberg article(Opens in a new window) that said Twitter has experienced a spike in hate speech and misinformation since Elon Musk took over the company in 2022.

"This is an absolutely false assertion. 99.99% of Tweet impressions are healthy,” according to a post(Opens in a new window) from the official Twitter Business account.

The statement prompted incredulous replies from users across the platform, which is rife with controversial takes, user dunking, and heated political debates. “Are you high?” one user posted(Opens in a new window) in response through an animated GIF. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat and frequent Musk critic, also couldn’t help but laugh while dismissing the claim. “I have never experienced more harassment on this platform than I do now. People now pay to give their harassment more visibility,” she tweeted,(Opens in a new window) a reference to Twitter Blue, which lets anyone purchase a blue verified checkmark for $8 per month.

Part of the problem is that Twitter is using the word “healthy” to vaguely describe its efforts at content moderation. In reality, the company is likely equating healthy with content that doesn't break its rules—like porn, inaccurate statements, and fiery political comments, along with low-quality ads for things like marijuana edibles and hentai-themed games.  

The Bloomberg article says Twitter has experienced a surge in hate speech and misinformation, citing findings from third-party watchdog groups, such as the Center for Countering Digital