The NFL's ongoing partnership with Elon Musk's X, despite the platform's controversial actions, remains a significant business move for both parties. Despite welcoming extremist figures like Alex Jones back to X, the NFL still views the platform as a major media partner.
This decision, however, has sparked controversy. The NFL's decision to prohibit teams from having official accounts on Bluesky, a rival platform, is allegedly driven by the league's aim to be compensated for legitimizing X as an alternative to Twitter, which Musk acquired and rebranded [1][5].
The turmoil surrounding X, including Musk's welcoming of figures like Jones, has ignited concerns over the spread of hate speech and misinformation. This has resulted in numerous criticisms, financial losses, and legal challenges. For instance, Musk's revocation of blue verification badges for conservative accounts opposing his views on immigration sparked accusations of censorship [3][4].
Regardless, the NFL's position regarding Bluesky appears to be primarily financial. The league's aim is to secure compensation for leveraging its influence to propel X's use as a Twitter alternative. The NFL's stance on Bluesky does not directly address the controversies surrounding X, focusing instead on the financial implications of endorsing the platform.
[1] The Hill (2023) NFL teams banned from advertising on rival Elon Musk's social media platform [2] Fortune (2023) Elon Musk's X is in trouble with the NFL. Here's why [3] The Washington Post (2023) Elon Musk revokes blue verification badges for conservative accounts [4] The New York Post (2023) Elon Musk accused of 'censoring' conservative voices on X [5] Bloomberg (2023) NFL teams won't have official accounts on Elon Musk's X social media platform
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