Elon Musk has a history of making controversial comments online, especially in recent years. And if one thing is clear, it is that this tech billionaire does not like Instagram.
Musk, who bought Twitter and subsequently rebranded it as X, maintains that Instagram is an app for girls. Elon Musk once again expressed his opinion on Instagram while replying to a post on X. The author of the original message stated they were leaving Instagram because they considered it an “inherently feminine” app with “no benefit.”
Musk quickly replied: “Instagram is for girls.”
This is not the first time Elon Musk has characterised Instagram as an app geared toward women; he had said the same thing in May of this year.
Why does Elon Musk think Instagram is for girls?
It may come as no surprise that Musk does not want users to switch to or use Instagram; after all, he owns his own social media platform, X. However, there seems to be more to the story.
In May, when his comments went viral, the tech billionaire elaborated on the reason for his opinion. At the time, he stated: “Sometimes grown men send me their Instagram profiles and I think, ‘Are you transitioning or what?'”
Over the years, Elon Musk has criticised the practice of “transitioning” or gender transition. Vivian Jenna Wilson is Musk’s transgender daughter; he has had a distant relationship with her since she publicly revealed her identity in 2020. Since then, the two have had a complicated relationship; Musk has even claimed that Vivian was infected by the “woke mind virus.”
Elon Musk is also believed to associate certain types of content with “girls,” often viewing them as frivolous, superficial, or akin to gossip. This is precisely the kind of content that is most popular on Instagram. However, it is also possible that Musk simply aims to provoke users with his comments-something he frequently does. Regarding the data, Instagram does not appear to be a platform exclusive to women.
According to Statista, as of October 2025, Instagram’s user base was 50.6 per cent male and 49.4 per cent female. However, the figures differ in the United States, where approximately 55.2 per cent of users identify as female and 44.8 per cent as male.
On the other hand, Musk has also stated that he considers X to be the only serious platform for online debate. “Only X is open; other social networks manipulate results behind closed doors,” he previously asserted.
(The Hans India)