Key Highlights
- Elon Musk’s X following numbers may be inflated
- Musk has 153 million followers
- The proportion of followers who have no followers is about 42%
Elon Musk boasts an impressive following of over 153 million on his X (formerly Twitter) account. However, a recent report sheds light on the authenticity of this figure, revealing that a significant portion of his followers are inactive or even fake. Third-party researcher Travis Brown’s data analysis, reviewed by the tech website Mashable, has uncovered intriguing insights. Also Read | Twitter Blue Subscription Finally Launched For Android: Is It Expensive?
Inactive Accounts Galore
Within the staggering count of 153,209,283 X accounts following Musk, a startling 42% – more than 65.3 million users – have absolutely no followers on their own accounts. This revelation points towards a substantial number of inactive accounts bolstering Musk’s follower count.
While the total follower count might appear astronomical, the average number of followers across all 153 million accounts following Musk is merely around 187. This statistic underscores the uneven distribution of genuine engagement and the prevalence of followers with minimal activity.
Premium Subscription
A mere 0.3%, approximately 453,000 Musk followers, have opted for the X Premium subscription (formerly Twitter Blue) priced at $8 per month. This statistic suggests that a vast majority of followers aren’t invested in enhanced features or engagement.
Remarkably, more than 72%, or nearly 112 million users, following Musk, have fewer than 10 followers on their accounts. This observation aligns with the notion that a considerable portion of his followers might be disengaged or not actively participating on the platform.
Lack Of Activity
An astounding 62.5 million of Musk’s followers have yet to send a single tweet, raising questions about the legitimacy and engagement level of a significant portion of the followers.
Data also reveals that more than 100 million followers of Musk have posted less than 10 tweets on their accounts. This statistic paints a picture of low content creation and limited interaction from a substantial portion of the followers.
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Post-Takeover Followers
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion on October 27, 2022, has had a marked impact on his follower base. A significant 25% – 38.9 million followers – were added after this acquisition date, reflecting the evolution of his followership over time.
The report emphasizes that many of Musk’s followers exhibit characteristics suggesting potential inactivity or even the existence of fake accounts. It’s likely that these traits are a combination of all three – ‘lurkers’ who consume content without interacting, inactive users, and potentially fabricated profiles.
25% Using X’s Default Image
Around a quarter of Musk’s followers, surpassing 38 million, sports X’s default profile image, hinting at the presence of users who haven’t fully customized their accounts.
Numeric Handles
More than 40% of Musk’s followers – nearly 50 million – have handles containing four or more numbers. This characteristic adds another layer to the analysis of the authenticity and engagement of his followers.
Musk’s Statement Of Monthly Users
While Musk asserts that X now boasts more than 540 million “monthly users,” the data presented suggests a need for careful examination of the engagement and activity levels among this user base.
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