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Thursday on X ( Twitter ) , all users see the same pinned topic under the “ What ’s happen ? ” sidebar . As part of a “ timeline putsch ” — which gives advertisers “ priority admission to logged - in users ’ first effect of the day ” — conservative media nonprofit PragerU is promoting the hashtag “ # DETRANS ” to advertise its fresh motion-picture show about “ the stories of detransitioners . ”
PragerU , which is not a university , calculate to “ bear on American ideals . ” The organization has beencriticizedfordoubtingclimate changeanddownplaying the reality of slavery . In a pressure tone ending , PragerUnotedthat it select go specifically for its ad campaign “ as it is one of the least censored societal media platforms ” after being purchased by Elon Musk .
The celluloid purport to feature vernal people who essay gender swan care , but now regret doing so . PragerU call in the unforesightful docudrama its “ most important ” picture yet , but extensive research register that detransitioning is incredibly rare . In a 2021 review of 27 studies , with almost 8,000 transgender patients , less than 1 % of peoplewho underwent any type of sex - affirmation surgeries express rue .
In spite ofresearchindicating that theseproceduresareoften life - savingand seldom result in ruefulness , right - annex figures continue to drum up panic around sex - affirming care for LGBTQ+ people . In 2023 alone , country legislator have introducedover 400anti - trans bills .
“ wellness charge for transgender people is mainstream , good practice fear that ’s back by every major medical connection and world wellness say-so , ” a spokesperson forGLAADsaid in a statement . “ PragerU ’s false and harmful propaganda can not stand a chance against the facts and evidence . Twitter / X ’s attempt to make money from extremist and their grotesque obsession shows how despairing they are to recoup the million lost since the change in possession , since few believable advertiser require to be anywhere near such trash . ”
PragerU said itspent $ 1 millionin total to advance the “ DETRANS ” documentary , a portion of which went toward its “ timeline coup ” on X. So , for a front - and - center , day - long ad arrangement , X is earning a maximum of 0.053 % of its estimated one-year advertising profit .
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“ The video does n’t target trans people in a manner that would nominate a violation of our policies , but is in the main focused on transgenderism , ” a instance from X told TechCrunch via e-mail . “ The video does depict trans people which may have been done without their consent , but given that the imagery seems to be taken from public sources ( e.g. TikTok or IG videos ) , the right to secrecy policy may also not use in this subject . ”
The advertizing on X can not be dismissed , even if a user has the advertiser PragerU ’s news report blocked . Typically , advert on X can be describe , but this one can not be flagged . The documentary in question is being used to solicit donations to the non - profit media group , as well as signatures for a prayer about protect kids from “ radical ideas about gender ” and “ transgendered ideology . ”
“ X is a spot that advance exemption of saying on all topics and pursuit , so long as people act within the bounds of the law , that means we do not attempt to take side or settle argumentation , ” the X representative added . “ Our end is to alleviate dialogue in a mode that people and organisation of all side feel is indifferent , safe and transparent . ”
PragerU is also advertising its documentary on Meta and Google , albeit in a far less prominent placement . The system exact that it sought a similar “ takeover ” advertising placement on YouTube , which is part of Google , but was traverse .
“ The ads in question do not profane our ads policies and are currently draw across our weapons platform , ” said Google spokesperson Michael Aciman . “ In accord with our YouTube advert necessary , since 2021 , ads related to political topics are ineligible to scat on the YouTube Masthead . ”
Since Musk ’s purchase of Twitter ( now X ) , the weapons platform has acted as a vehicle for hispersonal pursuit . In the past , X hasbanned journalistsreporting on Musk , blockedlinksto competition platform , change platform policy tocensor a botthat published public information about his private jet and singled out tidings outlets likeNPRand TheNew York Timeswith authority .
Musk has demonstrated a special animus toward the LGBTQ+ community . Over the last year , Musk has repeatedly mock transgender people , and evenremoved an old Twitter policythat prohibited the targeted deadnaming or misgendering of transgender the great unwashed . As recently as this week , Musk has posted that he believes the Logos “ cis ” is a “ heterosexual slur , ” a personal billet that reflectschangesmade to the company ’s content moderation policy under his leadership .
Elon Musk triples down on making Twitter unspeakable for trans people
