> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://onemanandhisblog.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # X predicts a riot - URL: https://onemanandhisblog.com/2024/08/x-predicts-a-riot/ - Published: 2024-08-05T10:16:13.000Z - Updated: 2024-08-05T10:16:13.000Z - Description: Has the loosened moderation under Elon Musk lead to the thuggery on the UK's streets over the weekend? Plus a glimpse at the possible future of search. - Author: Adam Tinworth - Tags: newsletter, X (Twitter), Politics, Social Media, local journalism, SEO It's been quite the weekend here in the UK. A [tragedy in Southport](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/southport-stabbing-mosque-protests-riot-edl-b2588605.html?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) last week has triggered a set of riots across the country, with emboldened extremists taking to the streets in acts of violence to protest what they see as the take-over of the country by immigrants. It's been a thread of British culture that's been simmering near to the surface since the Brexit referendum, but the combination of an inciting event and the political right losing power in the general election seems to have led to it boiling over. In *Prospect*, Alan Rusbridger explores the role of social media (and X in particular) in this: [Elon Musk’s misinformation machine made the horrors of Southport much worseThe X owner’s commitment to free speech absolutism contributed to a whirlwind of false reporting around the perpetrator’s identity. Why does he seem t…![](https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/prospect-180x180.28f7f41c97f38c37354794d5f60f9389.png)masthead logoAlan Rusbridger![](https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_preview/f91cbbb53620-protests.jpg)](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/67463/elon-musks-misinformation-machine-made-the-horrors-of-southport-much-worse?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) It will be interesting to see if, as the [Home Secretary suggests will happen](https://apple.news/AmLfyU5E3SxyiEikAXHonrw?ref=onemanandhisblog.com), people who incite riot on social media are arrested… (There's also plenty of discussion on X of the mainstream news media’s role in stoking this. It will also be interesting to see if that spreads beyond the usual suspects on the platform.) ## A (possible) peek at the future of search During my break, OpenAI announced [SearchGPT](https://openai.com/index/searchgpt-prototype/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com), their new LLM-based search engine. It's in a closed beta at the moment, with a waitlist for access. But this will give you a taste of what it's offering: [Everything a publisher should know about SearchGPT by OpenAIOriginally titled, “Everything an SEO should know about SearchGPT by OpenAI”, this LinkedIn post by digital marketing agency Go Fish Digital is required![](https://mediamakersmeet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/favicon-mx3-260x258.png)Media Makers Meet | What's new in mediaContributor![](https://mediamakersmeet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Artificial-intelligence-4-1024x576.jpg)](https://mediamakersmeet.com/everything-a-publisher-should-know-about-searchgpt-by-openai/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) **Health warning**: The “Google it” habit will be hard to break. SearchGPT will have to be compellingly better for enough use cases to get people to switch. So, for now, it's watching brief time. ## Local journalism: new growth after the wildfire One of my longest held and most cherished theories is that existing local news media will need to be burned away before their successors can grow and thrive in the aftermath. This piece from *Press Gazette* is evidence that this could actually happen: [Local heroes: The independent titles making news pay in LondonThree independent publishers who are making local news in London: the Enfield Dispatch, Havering Daily and City Matters.![](https://pressgazette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/09/cropped-Press-Gazette_favicon-270x270.jpg)Press GazetteAmy Seal![](https://pressgazette.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/08/Londonlocalnews1-e1722611787660-800x418.webp?1722849499)](https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/london-local-news-independent/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) I do worry about those titles hanging so much on the print editions, though. They carry so much more overhead than building a digital business. ## Useful things ### Stop a SLAAP Useful piece from the [j.co.uk](https://www.journalism.co.uk/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) folks on what to do if people use legal threads to try and kill a story: [What to do if you are threatened with a SLAPP lawsuitTBIJ offers pointers on how to deal with legal letters that aim to scare reporters into retracting or toning down work![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/newsite/images/favicon.png)Journalism.co.ukLucy Nash![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/assets/1/Untitled_design_(4).1.jpg)](https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/what-to-do-if-you-are-threatened-with-a-slapp-lawsuit-/s2/a1162518/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) ### Courses Talking of the Journalism News folks, I have a couple of courses kicking off in September: [Essential SEO skills for media professionalsThis intensive online course taking place over four 90 minute Zoom sessions will teach you how to use SEO to plan, develop and optimise articles to find readers through Google and other search engines![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/newsite/images/favicon.png)Journalism.co.uk![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/assets/149/Untitled_design(2).png)](https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/seo-for-media-professionals-a-practical-guide-to-getting-your-work-found2/s43/a733090/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) [Creating compelling newslettersThis four-session online course will give you the tools to create your own engaging online newsletter![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/newsite/images/favicon.png)Journalism.co.uk![](https://www.journalism.co.uk/assets/149/brett-jordan-LPZy4da9aRo-unsplash.jpg)](https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/creating-compelling-newsletters-online-course/s43/a761215/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com)