Elon Musk has been called a misogynist for his recent comment on Instagram, calling it a platform for girls. Responding to a viral thread about the behavior of men and women online, the billionaire wrote: “Lmao. Instagram is for girls.”
The original post argued that individuals’ social media habits reflect different “stages” of an individual’s life. He joked about how posting thirst traps, constantly uploading stories and sharing pictures of cooked food each represented a different phase.
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In a separate comment, Tesla’s CEO explained his reasoning, saying: “Sometimes grown men send me their Instagram profiles and I’m like, are you transitioning or what?
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Here’s how netizens reacted:
Netizens criticized the remark as misogynistic, prompting mixed reactions online.
“How are you the richest man in the world when you say things like that?” said a social media user.
“Elon’s ‘Instagram is for girls’ line is exactly the kind of internet line that becomes a geopolitical sideshow the moment it comes from one of the world’s most influential tech figures,” said another user.
One user added: “Instagram has an almost even split between men and women though!”
Another user jokingly asked Grok, AI X, to “explain to Elon that this is a man’s world, but it’s nothing without women.”
Some users tried to joke and highlight the cultural differences between X and Instagram.
“Absolutely….X is where high-octane people meet! Those who want speed, clarity, truth and zero waste of energy. It’s made for thrill seekers who have no patience for slow vibes! Instagram? That’s an aesthetic playground thought out…everything is perfect. A whole different sport!” said the user.
Another user said: “Instagram is for people who need 37 filters to say ‘I’m out’. X is for people who can start a war, society, conspiracy and group chat with one typo.”
“Yeah, if you didn’t own it of course, then it would be ‘super duper Alpha manly’….right Elon?” another comment read.
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Musk vs. Instagram
Elon Musk has consistently positioned his social media network X as a serious alternative to Meta-owned platforms, amid his ongoing rivalry with its CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
But the billionaire’s ideological battles are increasingly blurring the lines between his public platform and private life. The rift is most notable with his estranged daughter Vivian Jenny Wilson.
In 2022, Wilson legally changed her name and gender and severed all ties with the Tesla CEO. In her court filings, she specifically stated that she wanted to distance herself, stating that she no longer wished to be related to her biological father “in any way, shape, or form.”
Alienation has become central to Musk’s broader cultural campaign. He has repeatedly blamed what he calls “woke culture” for his daughter’s transition and their broken relationship.
Musk pointed to this deeply personal rift as the primary motivation for his current political leanings, controversially saying, “I promised to destroy the virus of the awakened mind afterwards. And we’re making some progress.”
