Elon Musk warned Twitter staff that his business needed to be “recovered” and “rationalized in terms of staff and costs” as he spoke directly to employees on the social media platform for the first time since launching his offer. for a $ 44 billion takeover.
Speaking to his 8,000-member workforce via video on a smartphone, Musk on Thursday shared a bold vision for the future of Twitter if he manages to make the company private. The free talk also touched on issues, including content moderation, remote work and aliens.
The billionaire CEO of Tesla said he wanted Twitter to build a user base of at least 1 billion people worldwide, according to someone familiar with the situation. The company has 229 million active users who can be monetized daily – logged in users to whom the platform displays advertising.
This would mean ensuring that people are not “harassed” on Twitter, he said, while adding a set of features to emulate China’s WeChat platform, a “super app” where users can send messages, pay, shop or book. fees in one place.
In a nod to a second Chinese-owned app, he said TikTok had successfully ensured that its content was not “boring” – and that Twitter should follow in its footsteps.
However, Musk also hinted that cuts, spending cuts or restructuring could be expected, adding: “At the moment, costs exceed revenues. This is not a great situation. “
His answers to the one-hour meeting, during which his employees’ questions were read by Twitter’s chief marketing officer Leslie Berland, suggest that he is still making plans for how he will run the company.
But it also comes after Musk repeatedly criticized Twitter’s management, accusing executives of failing to provide enough data on fake accounts and violating transaction obligations. This has led to speculation that he may maneuver to renegotiate at a lower price or leave.
Musk first made his offer on Twitter in April, promising to bring “freedom of speech” to what he called “digital city square” and to abandon restrictions on moderating content. On Thursday, he doubled those suggestions, adding that he believed “rather scandalous” tweets should be allowed on the platform.
Musk said advertising will remain important to increase revenue, but hopes to diversify into payments, subscriptions and paid consumer checks. In an early presentation shared with investors, he said he would seek to double his revenue to $ 24.6 billion by 2028, according to a source familiar with the document.
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Morality on Twitter is low throughout the process, with many employees unsure about job security if the deal is finalized or, if it fails, whether the company’s share price could be affected.
Some fear that Musk’s intense leadership style will clash with the calmer culture of Twitter’s workplace. He recently insisted that his Tesla employees show up at least 40 hours a week in the office or find another employer – in stark contrast to Twitter’s promise during the coronavirus pandemic that employees could “work from home full time forever “If they so decide.
During Thursday’s meeting, Musk softened his stance, saying that while he was addicted to personal work, Twitter employees who produce “exceptional” work may be able to work remotely.
In a confused answer to the question of whether he intends to become CEO, he said he did not mind anyway, before outlining his vision of “expanding consciousness” in the world and considering whether there are aliens. “I have not seen real evidence of aliens. . . more, “he added.
Additional reports by James Fontanella-Khan
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