A wave of Reddit communities has recently enacted bans on links to X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to a controversial gesture made by Elon Musk during an inaugural event on Monday. The decision to block X links, aimed at reducing traffic to the platform, has been supported by moderators and users across multiple subreddits, including the Formula 1 subreddit, which boasts nearly 5 million members.
A moderator from the Formula 1 subreddit announced on Tuesday that X links would be banned for a trial period, potentially becoming permanent. The announcement came after Musk’s remarks at President Donald Trump’s inauguration rally, where he made a gesture—slapping his chest and raising his palm downward—that sparked online debates. While some interpreted the action as a Nazi salute, others dismissed these claims.
The Anti-Defamation League addressed the controversy, stating in a post on X that Musk’s gesture appeared to be “an awkward moment of enthusiasm” rather than a Nazi salute. Musk has yet to clarify the gesture’s intent but dismissed the allegations on X, calling them part of a “dirty tricks campaign” and criticizing what he described as an overused “everyone is Hitler” narrative.
