17th November 2022, saw #RIPTwitter trending, less than a month after multi-billionaire Elon Musk finalised his acquisition of the social media site. The successful businessman decided to make some seismic changes to the way the platform is run. Many have said this is the end of the social media outlet as we know it.
Famously, Twitter has been a politically fuelled site that allows people to express their views freely, as long as they’re in no way offensive. Under the previous owners, political figures, such as Donald Trump, had their accounts banned due to breaching regulations.
However, Musk has stated he will reinstate these figures as part of a bid to enforce ‘absolutist free-speech’. Many Trump opposers have decided to boycott the site after this as a demonstration that they do not support this change of regulation, including celebrities such as Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, supermodel Gigi Hadid, and VMA winning actress Whoopi Goldberg to name a few.
Users of the site worry that the reinstatement of Former US President Donald Trump, on November 21st, alongside the abandonment from left-wing activists, will shift the platform to a political outlet for extremist right-wing figures.
Another measure the Tesla owner has instated is a monthly fee for the ‘blue tick’ on Twitter. Previously, these ticks were awarded, free of charge, to verified accounts such as celebrities and companies. Musk has introduced a ‘blue tick fee’ of $8 a month, which has had different responses from many famous faces. New York congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, joked that ‘free speech’ now has a subscription.
On the other hand, controversial public figure Andrew Tate said during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored that the way Musk’s business makes money is ‘his prerogative’, and he is entitled to it.
With such split opinions on whether Elon Musk will save free speech or create a cesspit of bigotry and hatred, many users are deciding to abandon the platform entirely. Stars are shifting their focus onto their Instagram accounts and are encouraging fans to follow suit. With the downfall of Twitter, other sites are likely to experience an influx of users.
With the layout and nature of Twitter being unique, it’s unlikely any other platforms could replace it. Opinions need a place to go, so no one can say for definite what will happen as this controversy unfolds.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon