Did Elon Musk Rig MrBeast’s Ad Experiment on X?

Introduction

There is a growing belief among some X users that Elon Musk manipulated the results of MrBeast's ad revenue experiment on the platform. MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is YouTube's biggest star with a massive following of 233 million subscribers. He has been critical of X's monetization strategy for influencers, stating that it is not worth it for him to post content on the platform. Musk has been attempting to revamp X's ads-revenue-sharing program to attract top influencer talent like MrBeast, but with limited success.

The Experiment and Results

Last month, MrBeast informed Musk that he was willing to test X's monetization capabilities when it is fully operational. On January 15, MrBeast uploaded a video titled "$1 vs $100,000,000 Car!" on X. The video had originally been uploaded to YouTube four months prior and had garnered 215 million views. On X, the video amassed 161 million views as of January 23. As promised, MrBeast shared that he had earned $250,000 from the video on January 22.

Questioning the Legitimacy

However, some X users had doubts about the authenticity of the experiment from the beginning. They questioned whether Musk had manipulated the video views or even paid MrBeast more ad revenue than he was supposed to receive. One user speculated that Musk and MrBeast had worked out a secret deal. Content moderation lead Kat Lo also raised concerns about Musk inflating the revenue received by MrBeast in a way that does not represent the actual payouts to other creators on X.

Ads and Transparency

It should be noted that unlabeled ads started appearing on X after Musk's acquisition of the platform in October 2022. This led to a complaint filed by the advertising watchdog Check My Ads, as transparency was lacking in the disclosure of these ads. According to advertising regulations, ads on social media must be clearly identified. The lack of transparency raises ethical and legal issues, highlighting the need for greater advertising literacy online.

Musk's Response

Musk responded to the accusations of rigging the results in an X post on January 20. He claimed that X had not amplified MrBeast's viewership. However, some X users shared screenshots from older versions of the X app, showing a "promoted" label on MrBeast's post. This led to further speculation about preferential treatment and undisclosed ads.

The Future of X

The controversy surrounding MrBeast's ad experiment raises concerns about X's credibility and its ability to attract brands. Simply relying on a few top creators may not be enough to regain advertisers' trust. X needs a comprehensive strategy to bring back advertisers and ensure the safety of their platform. Musk's pursuit of top influencers like MrBeast may not solve the underlying issues faced by X.

Conclusion

The allegations of Elon Musk rigging MrBeast's ad experiment on X have sparked a debate among users. While some believe there may have been manipulation, others argue that there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. The controversy highlights the need for transparency in advertising on social media platforms and the challenges faced by X in attracting advertisers back to their platform.

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By: ldodgson@insider.com (Lindsay Dodgson)
Title: Did Elon Musk Rig MrBeast’s Ad Experiment on X?
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/x-users-convinced-elon-musk-rigging-results-of-mrbeast-experiment-2024-1
Published Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:57:32 +0000