Elon Musk says terms like ‘cisgender’ are considered ‘slurs’ on Twitter
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter to condemn the words “cis” and “cisgender” as “slurs” after a user complained about receiving harassing messages from “trans activists” using those terms. Musk stated that these words are considered slurs on the platform and that repeated targeted harassment will result in suspensions for the harassing accounts. The conservative commentator James Esses had initially tweeted his rejection of the term “cis,” which led to the flood of messages he received.
The responses to Musk’s declaration on Twitter varied, with some users applauding his stance, others questioning how “cis” could be considered a slur, and still others criticizing the move as extreme. “Cisgender” refers to a person who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth.
During the Twitter thread, one user mentioned the origin of the term “cis” from German sexologist Volkmar Sigusch, who introduced the term in 1991 to describe individuals who are not transgender. Musk responded by calling the term’s creator a “contemptible creep.”
Another user questioned why Twitter does not ban the use of the N-word if “cis” is considered a slur. Twitter’s policy on hateful conduct does not specifically list terms considered slurs but condemns content that degrades or reinforces harmful stereotypes.
It remains unclear if Twitter will ultimately uphold the ban on the use of “cis” and “cisgender.” Musk has faced controversy in the past over decisions that were allegedly influenced by personal grudges. He has also been accused of suppressing tweets and direct messages containing certain terms related to gender identity.
Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in October, the platform has faced criticism for its lack of censorship. A study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate revealed a significant increase in racially offensive tweets attacking black people following Musk’s takeover. However, some experts suggested that this spike was caused by anti-Musk trolls seeking to create chaos on the site.
Recently, civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo criticized Twitter for failing to moderate neo-Nazi propaganda. She discovered extensive results related to a propaganda movie that promotes anti-Semitic ideas, which were being shared on the platform.
Notably, Musk has a transgender child named Vivian Wilson. Vivian, formerly known as Xavier Musk, made the decision to change her gender and last name to distance herself from her father’s fame and influence.
Elon Musk claims terms such as ‘cisgender’ are viewed as offensive language on Twitter.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently faced backlash on Twitter after condemning the use of the words “cis” and “cisgender” as slurs. Musk’s comments came in response to a user who complained about receiving harassing messages from “trans activists” calling him “cissy.” In a tweet, Musk stated, “The words ‘cis’ or ‘cisgender’ are considered slurs on this platform,” and warned that repeated harassment would result in suspensions.
Conservative commentator James Esses, who initially posted about rejecting the word “cis,” shared that he was bombarded with messages from trans activists using the term “cissy” and telling him he was “cis” whether he liked it or not. The reactions to Musk’s condemnation were mixed, with some celebrating his stance and others calling it extreme.
The term “cisgender” refers to a person who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth. One user pointed out that the term originated from German sexologist Volkmar Sigusch, who introduced it in a book about transgender individuals. Musk dismissed Sigusch as a “contemptible creep” and expressed his disregard for the term.
Twitter’s policy on hateful conduct does not specifically label certain terms as slurs, but it condemns words or content that degrade or reinforce negative stereotypes. It remains uncertain whether Twitter will uphold the ban on “cis” and “cisgender.” Musk has faced controversy in the past for making snap decisions based on personal vendettas, such as allegedly firing employees critical of him.
Musk has also been accused of suppressing the visibility of tweets and direct messages related to topics like transgenderism or intersexuality. Twitter has drawn criticism for its lack of censorship since Musk took over as owner, and according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, tweets containing racial slurs targeting black people tripled in number after Musk’s acquisition of the platform. However, some experts attribute this increase to anti-Musk trolls rather than Musk himself.
Recently, civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School clinical instructor Alejandra Caraballo criticized Twitter for failing to moderate neo-Nazi propaganda, noting that she found extensive results when searching for the propagandist film “Europa: The Last Battle.” Caraballo discovered that clips from this movie, which promotes anti-Semitic themes, were being uploaded to Twitter.
It is interesting to note that despite Musk’s controversial stance on the use of “cis” and “cisgender” as slurs, he has a transgender child. Vivian Wilson, formerly known as Xavier Musk, announced her gender transition at the age of 18 and decided to distance herself from her father’s famous surname.