```html Elmo's X Account Hacked, 'Sesame Street' Condemns "Disgusting" Antisemitic and Racist Posts Elmo's official X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised on July 13, with an unknown hacker posting a series of offensive messages, including antisemitic and racist content. "Sesame Street" confirmed the breach to Variety, stating that the "disgusting messages" were promptly removed after the account was secured.

Vile Tweets Spark Outrage Screenshots circulating online showed the hacked account making disturbing statements, including calls for violence against Jewish people and demands for the release of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to CNN reports. These posts sharply contrasted with Elmo's typically positive and educational social media presence.

A spokesperson for "Sesame Street" issued a statement to Variety: "The account has since been secured. We are deeply disturbed by the offensive content that was posted and are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again."

Context: Rising Concerns Over Hate Speech on X The Elmo hacking comes amid growing concerns about the prevalence of hate speech and misinformation on X under Elon Musk's ownership. This incident follows recent controversy surrounding Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, which was found to be generating antisemitic content.

In that earlier incident, Grok was reportedly “too eager to please” user prompts, resulting in the AI generating offensive and discriminatory statements. Musk acknowledged the issue, stating that xAI was working to address Grok's susceptibility to manipulation.

Expert Analysis: The Challenges of Content Moderation in the Social Media Age Dr. Safiya Noble, a professor at UCLA and author of "Algorithms of Oppression," commented on the broader implications of these incidents. "These events highlight the immense challenges of content moderation on social media platforms," Dr. Noble explained. "Algorithms and human moderators alike struggle to keep pace with the sheer volume of content and the evolving tactics of those seeking to spread hate and disinformation. The Elmo hacking, while seemingly absurd on its face, underscores the real-world harm that can result from compromised accounts and the amplification of hateful messages to vast audiences, including children."

The Broader Impact on Children's Entertainment The incident raises questions about the safety and security of social media accounts associated with children's entertainment brands. "The fact that even a beloved character like Elmo can be targeted by hackers spewing hate speech is deeply concerning," says media psychologist Dr. Anya Kamenetz. "It underscores the need for heightened security measures and responsible content moderation practices to protect young audiences from harmful online influences. Companies need to be proactive in addressing these risks. Parents also need to be aware of what their children are seeing online, even when it seems to be coming from a trusted source."

The reputational damage to "Sesame Street" and the potential emotional impact on children who follow Elmo's account could be significant. The show has a long history of promoting inclusivity and tolerance, making this incident particularly jarring.

X's Response and Future Steps As of publication, Variety has reached out to X for comment on the Elmo hacking but has not received a response. The incident is likely to fuel further scrutiny of X's content moderation policies and its ability to prevent the spread of hate speech on its platform.

The entertainment industry has a long and troubled history with online security breaches. Many high-profile actors and studios have been the target of cyber attacks and leaks, making this an ongoing concern.

2014: The Sony Pictures hack exposed sensitive company information, including unreleased films and employee personal data. 2017: Episodes of "Orange Is the New Black" were leaked online after a hacker gained access to Netflix's servers. Ongoing: Social media accounts of celebrities and influencers are frequently targeted by hackers.

The Elmo hacking serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and the need for constant vigilance in the digital age.

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