The truth about Twitter

Tuesday Talking Points!

Social media flew into a frenzy on Monday amid news that the enigmatic Elon Musk, as my old friend and Morehouse/Kappa Brother Smook Maxey called him yesterday, had purchased Twitter for a whopping $44 billion!

 Elon Musk

Admittedly, I didn't know what to make of this news at first as the following two things are true: 1. I didn't know all that much about Elon Musk; 2. I've never quite understood the fascination with Twitter. Ok, to keep it all the way real, I never quite comprehended how to get followers and influence dialogue on Twitter in the same way that I figured out how to win friends and influence folks on Facebook, so my Twitter page has often been as barren as the ice planet Hoth in Star Wars over the past several years 😆.

Now, as to prong two (2) above, yes, I know that Twitter is home to over 200 million faithful users worldwide, many of whom have used its 280 character limit to spread news, share opinions, and build their business or political brands since its founding in 2006.

I also know that the platform was the de facto presidential press room for Donald Trump during his term in office, a place where everything from his policy proposals to personal attacks on opponents made headlines multiple times per day (until his personal account was banned for stoking the seeds of the January 6th MAGA Riots at the Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C.).

As to the first prong above, I now realize that in addition to being a billionaire former co-founder of PayPal (and owner/chief engineer of Tesla Motors and Space X), that Elon Musk, a native South African, has shared his highly suspect views about the Coronavirus Pandemic that showed a hostility towards mask wearing, quarantines, vaccines, and everything in between. 

Musk's views, like those of many on the right who claim that social media platforms stifle free speech by banning users who share demonstrably false (or politically inflammatory) information in the public square, has curiously made him a hero of sorts to those who believe that they should have a right to type that the “Earth is flat,” that the “sun rises in the west,” that “drinking Clorox will cure the Coronavirus,” or “let’s come to Washington and literally stop Joe Biden from stealing the election,” if they choose. Indeed, to that end, it will be quite interesting to see if former President Trump receives a Twitter platform pardon, if you will, from Musk in the days ahead?

Stay tuned...

But what's equally clear is that there is also displeasure from those on the center-left of the political spectrum who have their own issues with free or stifled speech, many of whom announced yesterday that they are leaving Twitter in protest of the inevitable return of Mr. Trump and his followers who fled to the failing Parler and Truth Social apps over the past two years.

When I raised the issue about the Musk-Twitter transaction yesterday, a number of my Facebook followers were quick to weigh in; check out a few of the following:

Interestingly enough, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey called its new owner “the singular solution I trust” late Monday after Musk reached his deal to purchase his former site. Dorsey added: “In principle, I don’t believe anyone should own or run Twitter. It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company. Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness.”

Humorously, I translated Dorsey's words to exclaim "I just got paid," like the Johnny Kemp 80's era classic R&B song, so I didn't expect much else from him on the sale.

But it may surprise even my own friends and followers to know that while I reject most right wing political perspectives—and I absolutely abhor racist rhetoric on any social media platform—I guess I've always understood the idea that the free market gives social media owners a right to allow whatever type of speech that they desire on their platforms—from the profound, to the profane, to the inane!

You see, on multiple occasions these past 11 years, my Facebook account has been frozen by their “community standards” police all because I was telling the whole truth about systemic racism!

But I also understand that without those stints in Facebook Jail, that I might not have created this very blog to deliver my views directly to those who appreciate the way that my mind (and trenchant pen) work!

Thus, my conclusion, which is that Musk's purchase of Twitter doesn't vex me all that much because should I find the platform too distasteful at some point in the near future, it will be my prerogative to simply deactivate my account and move on!

Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point—have a great Tuesday evening!