EDITORIAL: Elon Musk's Twitter takeover is concerning
As issues of misinformation increase, we need competent individuals leading major social media platforms
This past week Elon Musk officially took over leadership of Twitter. The change has been the subject of much conversation these past few months, as Musk tried to back out and as individuals across the political spectrum reacted with skepticism at Musk’s acquisition.
This takeover comes as there is a pronounced focus on social media platforms and their role in allowing disinformation and misinformation to spread across the internet. Information has become a tricky business. Misinformation is the spreading of false information, without the same level of intent as might be in play with disinformation.
Social media companies have had to show how they are taking these threats seriously and the reforms they are making to fix these problematic affairs. We need to safeguard information and ensure that the public has steady and easy access to reliable, accurate information.
Musk’s takeover comes as some have alleged that Twitter has double standards for users and against whom they enforce guidelines. This claim is somewhat understandable: There should be universal rules, and anyone who breaks them should face consequences.
Musk, a supposed free-speech absolutist, has claimed that under his leadership, Twitter would address some of these problems while remaining a haven for free speech. Still, his idea of free speech absolutism has led to some already incredibly bigoted and difficult moments on the platform.
In the immediate hours after he became the CEO, Twitter saw a surge of racist posts, blurring the line between free speech and hate speech. Such an immediate rise in hateful tweets spurred uncertainty about Twitter under Musk: Would Twitter become a space for hate? Would there be any content moderation? Would it be safe for all users?
Musk is proposing a content moderation council, but it remains unclear what its responsibilities are and what authority it will have over enforcement. There should be more transparency about the council that clarifies what the council is and what it will do.
Content moderators, as a whole, ensure that Twitter remains a space for the public. They allow free speech to thrive by prohibiting blatant hate speech. To get rid of them sends a signal that negative, troubling content might be allowed on the platform with few to no consequences for the original posters of these types of tweets.
Not only has there been a surge in racist content on Twitter, but Musk’s entire argument that he is a free-speech absolutist also crumbles when one realizes that Musk has gotten rid of the entire board of directors — he is the sole director, meaning that it is quite literally his way or the proverbial highway.
In addition to those issues, Musk also announced that anyone could be verified on Twitter — if you pay an $8 per month subscription fee. This decision to make Twitter verification subscriber-based feels like Musk’s attempt to recuperate the incredible amount of money — $44 million to be exact — he spent to acquire the platform.
Twitter is an essential platform for many people. Whether you use it for news, for networking or just for fun, the possibility of a widespread exodus from Twitter seems limited. That does not mean, though, that individuals who are wary of Musk’s takeover should acquiesce to changes they feel hurt the platform and which might even harm the country.
Individuals should continue calling Musk out on Twitter. For instance, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has been calling Musk out recently. Such confrontation is good: It shows that people are not happy and do not accept Musk’s sudden changes. If there is enough of a ground swelling of outrage, Musk might decide not to pursue some of these changes.
Individuals also should resist these changes by deciding not to pay for Twitter. If people decide not to pay, the whole structure of the subscription will fall apart.
Ultimately, though, if you find that Twitter under Musk’s control verges too much into the negative, you should leave the platform. There are a plethora of other social media platforms that you can use to connect with friends and stay informed.
Musk is clearly not the right person to be running Twitter. His behavior, marked by incredible immaturity, does no good at this moment in American culture. We are facing compounding crises of misinformation and disinformation that find strength on social media platforms. We need competent, level-headed people leading these companies.
As individuals, we need to continue being mindful of the data we consume. We need to fact-check and do our own research. While social media gives us an overload of sources, we should also rely on more reputable news outlets to make informed opinions. In an age where the truth is being challenged, we need to commit ourselves to finding and defending it.
The Daily Targum's editorials represent the views of the majority of the 154th editorial board. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
