G
Godfrey Elimian
Guest
In April 2022, Elon Musk set his sights on Twitter to transform it into a “town hall” for free speech. His announcement, accompanied by tweets affirming his commitment to “free speech” and a desire to combat what he described as excessive moderation, captured the world’s attention.
In the widely discussed tweet from March 26, 2022, he asked, “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?” This tweet and a poll he shared showcased his dissatisfaction with Twitter’s moderation approach.
Musk’s stated goal was simple: to create a platform where people could openly share ideas without censorship constraints.
Following his conviction, on April 4, the Tesla founder announced his 9.2% stake in Twitter, making him the platform’s largest shareholder. Just weeks later, he offered to buy Twitter outright for $44 billion (or $54.20 per share), stating, “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe.”
Initially, Twitter’s board resisted Musk’s offer, implementing a “poison pill” strategy to limit his influence. However, as Musk secured financing, pressure mounted on the board to reconsider. The board ultimately agreed to his terms, acknowledging the potential benefits of his proposed “free speech” agenda and the financial reality of Musk’s generous offer.
Elon Musk is suing the law firm that helped force him to buy Twitter for $44b
Shortly after the board’s acceptance, Musk raised concerns over Twitter’s user base, alleging that the platform’s bot accounts were far higher than disclosed. In a now-infamous tweet, he said, “They [Twitter] say it’s <5% bots, but I don’t believe it.
Show the proof or face the consequences.” In July 2022, he attempted to back out of the deal, citing these issues.
Twitter promptly sued Musk, aiming to enforce the $44 billion deal. As court proceedings in Delaware’s Court of Chancery loomed, the billionaire reinforced his commitment to the deal and resolved to “keep fighting if necessary but would prefer to settle amicably.” Days before the trial began, Musk agreed to close the deal on October 27, 2022, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter.
Since acquiring Twitter, Musk has made sweeping changes. In July 2023, he rebranded Twitter to “X,” aligning with his idea of an “everything app” that could handle social media, payment transactions, and more.
He tweeted, “Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.”
The new Twitter owner’s influence extended to content moderation, where he followed through on his promises to relax Twitter’s policies. This included unbanning some previously suspended accounts and implementing Community Notes, a feature to crowdsource fact-checking.
Several other changes have emerged, including X’s introduction of long-form tweets that allow up to 4,000 characters. Additionally, the verification process has shifted from a random selection to a paid model, meaning users must pay for verification instead of being selected randomly. The blue checkmark now varies for public and notable figures, along with other feature upgrades to the app.
To increase revenue, Musk rolled out Twitter Blue, a subscription model with features like profile verification. He also introduced ad revenue sharing, tweeting, “Content creators should benefit more from the ads served on their content,” an incentive to keep influential voices on the platform.
Musk’s major company restructuring, which included significant layoffs, raised concerns about X’s ability to effectively manage content moderation while staying true to his vision of free speech.
This restructuring culminated in the appointment of Linda Yaccarino as the first female CEO, following Jack Dorsey’s departure from the role.
Read also: Here is all you need to know about Twitter’s tweet viewing limits
Public response to Musk’s policies and changes has been divided. Some argue that X has become a more open platform, allowing a wider range of viewpoints. In one of his tweets, he addressed criticisms by saying, “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom of reach,” referencing his stance on limiting harmful content’s visibility rather than outright banning it.
Hence, while supporters claim that the billionaire’s approach has brought Twitter (X) closer to being a genuine town hall, critics argue that less stringent moderation has also led to increased harassment and misinformation.
Several studies have indicated spikes in certain harmful content since Elon’s takeover, and prominent figures have pointed out that relaxed policies might alienate advertisers. The EU’s Digital Services Act, requiring platforms to control harmful content, poses a challenge to Musk’s approach, making it harder to balance free speech with platform safety.
Two years after Musk’s takeover, X has become almost unrecognisable from its former self. His policies have broadened the boundaries of permissible speech, though the question remains whether this aligns with his original vision of a modern-day town hall.
Musk’s assertion that X “still has its flaws, but freedom to speak one’s mind is paramount” encapsulates his commitment, but the platform’s evolution highlights the ongoing struggle between unrestricted speech and safe discourse.
Ultimately, whether X has improved depends on personal perspectives and will likely continue to be debated as the platform develops.
The post 2 years after buying Twitter, has Elon Musk’s quest for free speech been achieved? first appeared on Technext.
In the widely discussed tweet from March 26, 2022, he asked, “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?” This tweet and a poll he shared showcased his dissatisfaction with Twitter’s moderation approach.
Musk’s stated goal was simple: to create a platform where people could openly share ideas without censorship constraints.
Following his conviction, on April 4, the Tesla founder announced his 9.2% stake in Twitter, making him the platform’s largest shareholder. Just weeks later, he offered to buy Twitter outright for $44 billion (or $54.20 per share), stating, “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe.”
Buying Twitter: The back-and-forth with the board
Initially, Twitter’s board resisted Musk’s offer, implementing a “poison pill” strategy to limit his influence. However, as Musk secured financing, pressure mounted on the board to reconsider. The board ultimately agreed to his terms, acknowledging the potential benefits of his proposed “free speech” agenda and the financial reality of Musk’s generous offer.
Elon Musk is suing the law firm that helped force him to buy Twitter for $44b
Shortly after the board’s acceptance, Musk raised concerns over Twitter’s user base, alleging that the platform’s bot accounts were far higher than disclosed. In a now-infamous tweet, he said, “They [Twitter] say it’s <5% bots, but I don’t believe it.
Show the proof or face the consequences.” In July 2022, he attempted to back out of the deal, citing these issues.
Twitter promptly sued Musk, aiming to enforce the $44 billion deal. As court proceedings in Delaware’s Court of Chancery loomed, the billionaire reinforced his commitment to the deal and resolved to “keep fighting if necessary but would prefer to settle amicably.” Days before the trial began, Musk agreed to close the deal on October 27, 2022, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter.
Changes at Twitter (now X) under Musk’s leadership
Since acquiring Twitter, Musk has made sweeping changes. In July 2023, he rebranded Twitter to “X,” aligning with his idea of an “everything app” that could handle social media, payment transactions, and more.
Msuk’s first day in office pun
He tweeted, “Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.”
The new Twitter owner’s influence extended to content moderation, where he followed through on his promises to relax Twitter’s policies. This included unbanning some previously suspended accounts and implementing Community Notes, a feature to crowdsource fact-checking.
Several other changes have emerged, including X’s introduction of long-form tweets that allow up to 4,000 characters. Additionally, the verification process has shifted from a random selection to a paid model, meaning users must pay for verification instead of being selected randomly. The blue checkmark now varies for public and notable figures, along with other feature upgrades to the app.
To increase revenue, Musk rolled out Twitter Blue, a subscription model with features like profile verification. He also introduced ad revenue sharing, tweeting, “Content creators should benefit more from the ads served on their content,” an incentive to keep influential voices on the platform.
Musk’s major company restructuring, which included significant layoffs, raised concerns about X’s ability to effectively manage content moderation while staying true to his vision of free speech.
This restructuring culminated in the appointment of Linda Yaccarino as the first female CEO, following Jack Dorsey’s departure from the role.
Read also: Here is all you need to know about Twitter’s tweet viewing limits
Has Musk achieved his free speech goals?
Public response to Musk’s policies and changes has been divided. Some argue that X has become a more open platform, allowing a wider range of viewpoints. In one of his tweets, he addressed criticisms by saying, “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom of reach,” referencing his stance on limiting harmful content’s visibility rather than outright banning it.
Hence, while supporters claim that the billionaire’s approach has brought Twitter (X) closer to being a genuine town hall, critics argue that less stringent moderation has also led to increased harassment and misinformation.
Several studies have indicated spikes in certain harmful content since Elon’s takeover, and prominent figures have pointed out that relaxed policies might alienate advertisers. The EU’s Digital Services Act, requiring platforms to control harmful content, poses a challenge to Musk’s approach, making it harder to balance free speech with platform safety.
Is X a better platform today?
Two years after Musk’s takeover, X has become almost unrecognisable from its former self. His policies have broadened the boundaries of permissible speech, though the question remains whether this aligns with his original vision of a modern-day town hall.
Musk’s assertion that X “still has its flaws, but freedom to speak one’s mind is paramount” encapsulates his commitment, but the platform’s evolution highlights the ongoing struggle between unrestricted speech and safe discourse.
Ultimately, whether X has improved depends on personal perspectives and will likely continue to be debated as the platform develops.
The post 2 years after buying Twitter, has Elon Musk’s quest for free speech been achieved? first appeared on Technext.