Elon Musk’s X project, formerly known as Twitter, has been facing scrutiny for repeatedly sharing misleading or incorrect statistics about its performance. Recently, Elon Musk shared a chart indicating a massive spike in website traffic for X, sourced from the SEO management platform SEMRush. However, the chart only reflects website traffic and does not include app usage, which accounts for around 80% of X’s overall usage. Additionally, the spike in traffic in April last year was not a result of increased usage but was due to an update in SEMRush’s reporting methodology that included SERP Features.
The increase in traffic numbers for X in the SEMRush report is not reflective of actual growth in user numbers but is mainly attributed to the changes in data collection methodology that incorporated SERP Features. This discrepancy in data reporting also contrasts with other third-party reports that have shown a decline in X’s daily active users and web visits since Elon Musk took over the app. Despite X reporting 250 million daily active users consistently, there are indications from various sources that user numbers have declined significantly over the past year.
The conflicting reports about X’s performance point to a lack of clarity and accuracy in the data that X is sharing. While Elon Musk’s post about the spike in website traffic may give the impression of rapid growth, it raises questions about the overall validity of the data being shared. The idea that X could triple its web traffic while maintaining the same number of overall users seems improbable and highlights the need for transparency and accuracy in reporting metrics. It is essential for companies like X to provide reliable and truthful information about their performance to maintain credibility and trust among users and investors.
The discrepancies in data reporting also suggest that X may be trying to present a positive image of its performance despite evidence indicating a decline in user numbers. The inconsistent reports from different sources paint a complex picture of X’s current status and raise concerns about the reliability of the data being shared with the public. As X continues to face scrutiny over its data reporting practices, it will be important for the company to address these discrepancies and provide clear and accurate information about its performance to regain trust and credibility in the industry.
Ultimately, the controversy surrounding X’s data reporting practices highlights the importance of transparency and accuracy in sharing information about a company’s performance. As X continues to navigate challenges and scrutiny over its user numbers and website traffic, it will be crucial for the company to prioritize honesty and integrity in its reporting practices. By providing reliable and truthful information about its performance, X can rebuild trust and credibility among users and stakeholders and establish a reputation for transparency and accountability in the industry.