‘Instagram is For Girls’: Elon Musk Revives Meta Feud With Fresh X Post, Sparks Online Reactions

Elon Musk has reignited his long-running rivalry with Meta and its social-media platforms after posting “Instagram is for girls” on X, triggering a fresh wave of reactions among users.

Musk made the remark on October 1 while responding to a post by venture capital firm Geiger Capital, which said it had “officially deleted Instagram” and described the platform as an “inherently female app”.

Musk’s brief response — “Instagram is for girls” — was widely shared on X, with users debating the comment and its implications.

Musk Has Made Similar Instagram Remarks Before

The latest comment is not the first time Musk has targeted Instagram. In May, he made a similar remark during an online discussion about social-media habits.

At the time, Musk also mocked men who send him links to their Instagram profiles. His comments drew criticism and fuelled a wider debate over gender stereotypes and social-media usage.

Musk Vs Meta: How The Rivalry Began

Musk’s latest jab comes amid his broader rivalry with Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The competition intensified in July 2023, when Meta launched Threads, a text-based social-media platform developed by the Instagram team. Threads allowed users to sign up using their Instagram accounts and was positioned as a platform for sharing text updates and joining public conversations.

The launch came months after Musk acquired Twitter, which was later rebranded as X. Reuters reported at the time that Meta was seeking to capitalise on the turmoil surrounding Musk’s ownership of Twitter.

Threads’ connection with Instagram also gave Meta access to Instagram’s large existing user base. Meta has since expanded Threads with features including a web version, keyword search and trending topics.

Musk And Meta Also Compete In The AI Space

The rivalry between Musk and Meta has since extended beyond social media.

Musk’s xAI and Meta are also competing in the artificial intelligence sector, while Musk has increasingly integrated Grok into his technology businesses.

X was acquired by xAI in a $33 billion deal announced in 2025, bringing Musk’s social-media and AI operations under the same corporate umbrella.

Musk has also repeatedly promoted X as an alternative to Meta-owned platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Musk’s Instagram Comment Divides Users

Musk’s latest remark quickly drew a range of reactions on X, with users debating his characterisation of Instagram and the differences between the two platforms.

Some users appeared to support Musk’s view, with one responding, “X is for the boys,” while others joked about the decision to delete Instagram. One user wrote, “Deleting Instagram just to announce it on X is the most Instagram imaginable.”

Another user said they had not deleted Instagram and disagreed with Musk’s statement, while a separate reaction joked, “Learn from you, and YouTube will also be deleted.”

Others pushed back against Musk’s comment, arguing that Instagram is used by people across genders and age groups. One user described Instagram as “a welcoming space for all genders”, while highlighting body positivity, inclusivity and diverse representation on the platform.

The gender-based characterisation also drew criticism, with one user questioning whether such comments were “perpetuating sexism” and arguing that criticising an entire app community was different from simply choosing not to use the platform.

Another user asked, “What’s the male equivalent. Reddit?”, adding to the debate over whether social-media platforms can meaningfully be categorised as being primarily for men or women.

The mixed reactions reflect the wider rivalry between Musk and Meta, with users continuing to compare X, Instagram and Threads over their audiences, features and online culture.