Elon Musk Has Hinted At Replacing Twitter, Either Buying It Or Creating His Own Social Network
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hinted about potentially starting his own social network over the weekend following interest expressed by some of his followers. Whether he creates his own platform or even purchases Twitter in the coming year, Musk believes that "free speech" is being limited on one of the most prominent platforms right now.
The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 25, 2022
Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
On Friday, Musk outlined his beliefs on why Twitter, as an open forum, was not doing its due diligence. He conducted a poll with his followers that asked the question, "Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?" with the results accumulated in the following 24 hours. After the survey concluded, his followers mostly voted "No," with roughly 70.4 percent of them believing that Twitter wasn't adhering to free speech guidelines.
Musk reiterated through quote tweets and replies to his own posts how the results of the poll could have real-world implications. With the funds that Musk has to his expense, anything seems to be possible to create for him. Given the proper window, he could potentially start his own Twitter-like social media platform.
Am giving serious thought to this
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
He then gave "serious thought" to a question posed by a follower of his, @PPathole, who believed, alongside Musk, that a platform both without propaganda and free speech-friendly is necessary in the modern world.
The discourse also began to allude to Musk's inquiries about buying Twitter. Multiple followers of his started imagining this future, one where Dogecoin is the platform's major currency and Donald Trump is welcomed back onto the platform. Overall, a lot of support appeared to come from the political right amid the tweetstorm.
💯
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
I wish Elon Musk would just buy Twitter already. Anyone else?
— Blantdaddy3 (@blantdaddy3) March 25, 2022
Elon Musk said that Twitter "fundamentally undermines democracy” because it does not protect freedom of speech.
He gets it. Our leaders don't.— Isabella Maria DeLuca (@IsabellaMDeLuca) March 27, 2022
Elon Musk can save freedom of speech by buying Twitter and bringing President Trump back.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) March 25, 2022
Others feared Elon Musk's interest in acquiring Twitter, reiterating how Musk wants to put microchips in people's brains and how that interest of his could allude to something "sinister" in his intentions. This argument against Musk also alluded to the growing distrust of billionaires globally among some. Even though Musk has good publicity with the people due to his shitposting habits, it could all be smoke and mirrors for a deeper plan.
Today I woke up to thousands of people on Twitter begging for Elon Musk, a billionaire who has openly admitted to wanting to implant microchips in human brains, for a social media alternative. This man is not Tony Stark. He is not a hero. He has no good intentions. Please stop.
— Just.A.Thought 💭 (@e_galv) March 26, 2022
Twitter however wasn't the only platform on Elon's mind though. He also name-dropped TikTok within his conversations online. To him, the video platform represents "an obvious AI attack." However, his admiration for TikTok was still palpable behind his projected disgust.
TikTok feels like such an obvious AI attack that it’s annoying.
I prefer to be attacked by AI with subtlety – maybe a rose, some candles, wine, Barry White, witty banter, that sort of thing …— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
🤣
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
If Musk really wants to "seize the memes of production," he could do so if he put his mind and money to it, but few details about what's actually to come from all this are currently known.
Seize the memes of production!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
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