Why #RIPElon Is Trending On Twitter | Screen Rant
#RIPElon is trending on Twitter today, following a number of users sharing posts suggesting Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has died. Musk is a highly popular figure and often creates headlines just on Tweets alone. However, this time the posts in question are not coming from Musk’s account but others, and not just on Twitter.
The micro-blogging platform, and social media in general, can be an effective way to share information quickly and with a significant number of users at the same time. In some cases, the information is not always positive or even true with many social media services having come under pressure recently for their part in the spread of misinformation online. Due to this, it can sometimes be difficult for platform users to distinguish real news from fake news on social media.
A number of users on Twitter have been posting with the #RIPElon hashtag. Some of which specifically reference Musk’s death while others are simply using the hashtag to pay their respects. Some Tweets are being accompanied by screenshots of what appears to be fake headlines from popular news outlets suggesting the Tesla CEO had died. Beyond the screenshot headlines, there are others sharing materials that are claimed to have been shared by Tesla confirming Musk’s death. Further connecting Musk and Tesla, some posts suggest that Musk died as a result of a battery explosion at a Tesla factory.
To be clear, Elon Musk does not appear to be dead. There are no confirmed reports suggesting Musk died and the popular CEO’s Twitter account Tweeted earlier this morning sharing a video of the recent landing and explosion of SpaceX's SN10 Starship. Besides Musk’s Twitter account being active today, many online are calling out others claiming the posts to be fake. This is not only on Twitter, but elsewhere online, including Reddit. In fact, in one Reddit thread there is speculation that the posts and user reports surfaced as a way to manipulate the market and affect the stock price of Tesla. However, there’s no evidence that is the case.
Regardless of the reason, there are currently no credible reports suggesting any truth behind the #RIPElon posts on Twitter and elsewhere. Considering the attention that often surrounds Musk, any credible suggestion would have been highly reported on. In spite of the screenshots and the sheer volume of posts being shared online today, Tesla and SpaceX have not officially posted anything suggesting Elon Musk has died.