From Twitter to X: Evaluating the Change of Ownership Structure in Social Media through the X Platform

This study analyzes the process of Twitter's transformation into X after its acquisition by Elon Musk in October 2022. Employing a political -economy approach to explore this transformation in the context of media ownership and control relations, the study argues that ownership structure is as determinative in the formation of quality in new media as it is in traditional media. The study therefore begins by analyzing the problem of ownership structure in traditional media and the contribution of traditional media to capitalist modes of production. Through several examples, it then shows that in today's information society, new media platforms-namely, social media-operate in the same way, with both new and traditional media leading to commercialization and commodification. These platforms serve as both a tool for accessing commodities and an area where commodities are produced; they are also where most digital labor is carried out today. This has led to an increasing interest in social media platforms among companies across a range of sectors. Using thematic categorization and descriptive analysis, this study examines the content and stylistic changes that have taken place on one social media platform in particular, X, following the change in its ownership structure. It argues that the transformation of the platform and its content since October 2022 result from the change in its ownership structure, which itself is part of a broader trend occurring among new media platforms as companies seek to generate more profit. The study reveals that in the context of ownership and control relations, media outlets have established an asymmetrical relationship with the state and capital structures, one in which the public interest is rarely a major concern.