'X saves money': Elon Musk 'proves' X is biggest organic traffic getter for online platforms

In a recent update on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk, owner, and Chief Technical Officer (CTO), shared a revealing image showcasing X’s remarkable lead in organic traffic over Meta’s Facebook and Instagram. The post also shed light on the platform’s significantly lower paid traffic and comparatively modest paid topic prices. According to the data shared by Musk, in November 2023 in the United States, X on desktop witnessed impressive search engine (SE) traffic, driven organically by Google, reaching 650.9 million.

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— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2023

In contrast, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram trailed behind with 520.7 million and 496.5 million, respectively. The disparity continued in the realm of paid traffic, where X recorded only 1.1K (1100), while Instagram and Facebook reported 99.9K and 708.4K paid traffic, respectively. The trend extended to mobile traffic as well, with X outpacing Meta’s social media platforms in terms of organic traffic. Despite the substantial lead in organic reach, X’s paid traffic price remained considerably lower at 14.3K USD, while Instagram and Facebook reported 105.4K and 1.1 million USD, respectively. However, amidst these positive statistics, Musk acknowledged a significant challenge faced by X, with major advertisers withdrawing their campaigns in response to controversial comments made by Musk on the platform. Notable companies such as Disney, IBM, Warner Bros, and Discovery have distanced themselves from X, prompting Musk to address the issue at The New York Times DealBook Summit. Expressing his stance on the advertiser boycott, Musk stated, “I don’t want them to advertise.” He defiantly added, “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising money, go f— yourself.” Musk also warned about the potential repercussions, stating, “What the advertising boycott is going to do is it’s going to kill the company. The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail. Let’s see how Earth responds.” The situation remains dynamic as X navigates the intersection of organic success and the challenges posed by the advertiser exodus. (With inputs from agencies)