Elon Musk’s Twitter Acquisition: What’s Next for the Platform?

Barring another change of heart and certain conditions to be met, Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter looks set to go ahead, prompting the question of whether some or all of the changes he initially hinted at for the platform will become a reality.

The platform is a popular communication and news tool for crypto enthusiasts, users, and investors, not to mention crypto scammers. Twitter sees roughly 120,000 tweets per day about #Bitcoin alone, according to BitInfoCharts.

Looking Back at Musk’s Vision

Looking back at Musk’s initial commentary when he proposed a buyout of Twitter could shed light on what changes he envisions for the platform. A focus on free speech, eliminating spam bots and fake accounts, an edit function, and possibly even crypto payments are all potential items on the agenda if the deal goes through.

Spam Bots and Fake Accounts

One potential area of focus is around Twitter’s alleged spam bots. During a TED Talk in Vancouver in April, Musk stated that if his offer to buy Twitter were successful, a “top priority” would be the elimination of spam and scam bots from the platform. He noted:

“A top priority I would have is eliminating the spam and scam bots and the bot armies that are on Twitter.”

He proposed to tackle them by “authenticating all humans” and even remarked, “We will defeat the spam bots or die trying!” Issues relating to spam bots later became a key argument in Musk’s attempt to back out of the deal.

Free Speech and the Return of Trump?

Musk initially addressed his stance on free speech in a tweet back in April, stating:

“I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

Since then, he has not publicly changed his stance, which could include the potential return of former President Donald Trump, permanently banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Musk stated in a May 13 tweet that while he believes Trump should probably not run for president again, he also thinks he should be “restored to Twitter.”

Making Algorithms Public

Musk has also floated the idea of making Twitter’s algorithm publicly accessible, even creating a poll that ultimately saw over 1 million votes with 82% of respondents agreeing to the proposal. While it remains unclear what Musk has in mind, it could lead to an open inspection of the software, allowing users to read the code and suggest changes.

Other Ideas and Adjustments

Other ideas have either fizzled out or have already been implemented, such as the plans to utilize blockchain technology and charging 0.1 Dogecoin (DOGE) for every tweet or retweet, which Musk later deemed infeasible. Additionally, Twitter recently announced plans for an edit button, allowing users a feature Musk had discussed.

Community Response

The crypto community remains divided on whether Musk’s Twitter takeover will positively impact the platform. Many users have taken to Twitter to express their mixed feelings, while others mock the entire situation.

As Musk’s intentions come into clearer focus, one Twitter user quipped about potential changes to Twitter headquarters:

@elonmusk Twitter headquarters after Elon Musk makes his first changes ⚠️

Closing Remarks

Twitter has announced it intends to close the transaction at $54.20 per share, moving forward with the purchase in light of Musk’s commitment. As the tech world watches closely, the future of Twitter under Musk’s ownership remains uncertain but filled with potential transformations.