Credit: Dreamstime: Rokas Tenys
Is Elon Musk about to buy Twitter? Or, is he about to start his own social media platform? These questions have been circulating online since the world’s richest man started a conversation about social media and free speech last week, and hinted that he might be the one to do something about it.
Last Thursday March 25, Musk ran a poll on Twitter asking his fans whether they thought Twitter “adheres rigorously to the principles of free speech.” The response was an overwhelming 70.4 percent agreeing it didn’t. He then Tweeted: “Given that Twitter serves as the defacto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy. What should be done?”
Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37
But it wasn't until Musk Tweeted, “Seize the memes of production,” that social threads were set alight with speculation that he intends on fixing the wrongs of social media, or the Twitter platform at least.
Seize the memes of production!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
So, what comes next? Is Musk in talks to purchase Twitter? Or does his last comment mean he has commissioned a legion of programmers to whip up his own social platform to sit within his own tech empire? He’s certainly got the resources to do either one of those things, his personal net wealth currently estimated to be approximately 267.3 billion USD.
Although Musk didn't actually reveal any plans, most fans have Tweeted their support for the idea. One user Tweeted "Buy Twitter Elon," while another said "A new platform is needed or a complete change of the management of this one... We need a wealthy man who believes in free speech to help us out. Do you know someone @ElonMusk (wink emoji)"
A new platform is needed or a complete change of the management at this one - with everyone given a “second chance” on their banned accounts.
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) March 26, 2022
We need a wealthy man who believes in free speech to help us out. Do you know someone @ElonMusk? 😉
However, some fans were less enthusiastic, pointing out how any new social media platform could be just as subjective as any that exist now.
Elon this is owned by a private company, just as a new platform will be. If they decide we can only tweet about pink elephants tomorrow they have every right to do so ;-) Only if it’s govt owned you can talk about freedom of speech, but that’s never gonna happen.
— Kim (@_kim_mik) March 27, 2022
One fan took a more constructive approach Tweeting: "The platform is an expression of the users, not the internal functions of the platform itself. If you truly want to improve the open discourse, you could work with Twitter. I hear you recently left another board position so surely you have some time on your hands (wink emoji)."
The platform is an expression of the users, not the internal functions of the platform itself.
— Tesla Para Todos (@TeslaParaTodos) March 27, 2022
If you truly want to improve the open discourse, you could work with Twitter. I hear you recently left another board position so surely you have some time on your hands 😉
