Musk polls Twitter users on whether he should step down
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Elon Musk has admitted removing accounts for posting links to rival Mastodon was a “mistake” as he searches for a replacement after announcing he is stepping down.
Speaking on the Twitter space on Wednesday, Mr Musk was questioned about the suspension of accounts, such as that of venture capitalist Paul Graham, for posting links to Mastodon.
“Yes, it was a mistake,” Mr. Musk said.
He was then asked to clarify if people can post the Mastodon link now.
“Yeah, hell, I’ve been posting Mastodon all damn day, I don’t care,” he added.
Twitter has reversed a controversial policy of suspending users for posting links to rival sites such as open-source Mastodon, which has seen a surge in new users since Mr Musk took control.
The admission comes after Mr Musk confirmed he would step down as CEO of Twitter.
“I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone stupid enough to take the job! After that, I’ll just manage the software and server teams,” he tweeted.
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Elon Musk and Adam Schiff are arguing again on Twitter
ICYMI: The billionaire asked the California lawmaker if he endorsed “covert government censorship in direct violation of the United States Constitution.”
Mr. Schiff was quick to turn the tables on the Twitter owner.
“I do not support censorship. Or hate speech. As the (outgoing) CEO of Twitter, how about you? Why not do more to stop the slurs against black people, LGBTQ+ people, Jews and others? Are you committed to providing the public with actual answers and data, not just tweets?” he wrote.
Graham Massey December 21, 2022 1:01 pm
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Are Elon Musk’s Twitter Antics Hurting Tesla?
ICYMI: Tesla investors are reportedly unhappy with what they see as a major distraction from Musk. The electric carmaker is currently experiencing its biggest share selloff since it went public 12 years ago (see chart below), and the CEO’s Twitter antics are thought to be a big factor in that $600 billion plunge.
We heard from Antoine Arguge, the founder of ethical investment group Tulipshare:
Elon Musk’s decision to call on Twitter users to vote on whether he should remain CEO is the latest in a string of controversial decisions that have undermined his reputation and credibility in [Tesla] shareholders.
it is the latest move in a long line of actions that demonstrate his instability and how his preoccupation with Twitter is damaging trust among his shareholders. Tesla’s market value has plummeted since Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and its performance shows how Tesla’s board has failed to hold Musk accountable — it’s time for shareholders to act.
Backed by retail investors, we want Elon Musk’s pay to be linked to his environmental, social and governance performance. Tesla’s board and its shareholders must take greater responsibility to adopt and deliver on more ambitious ESG commitments – and retail investors have a vital role to play in holding them accountable. Through shareholder activism, we are calling for Musk’s pay to be linked to ESG, demanding better governance, and achieving environmental and worker rights across the economy.
Antoine Arguge
Graham Massey December 21, 2022 12:02 pm
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Elon Musk is “actively looking” for a new Twitter CEO
ICYMI: Elon Musk is reportedly “actively looking” for a new Twitter CEO, according to sources cited by CNBC.
There is no word on who might be a potential successor, although several figures have been put forward — including rapper Snoop Dogg and computer scientist Lex Friedman.
“It’s not about finding a CEO, it’s about finding a CEO to keep Twitter alive,” Musk tweeted Sunday night.
Stuti Mishra December 21, 2022 11:15 am
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2.5 million users flock to Twitter rival Mastodon after Musk takeover
Mastodon has seen millions of users flock since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter in October, growing eightfold in monthly users.
According to a blog post by the platform’s founder, Eugen Rochko, the website saw 2.5 million users between the months of October and November, a big jump from 300,000 users previously.
In the post about Twitter’s now-repealed rules restricting the posting of links to other social media sites and the suspension of journalists, Mr. Rochko wrote that “more and more journalists, political figures, writers, actors and organizations” were coming through.
“Understanding that freedom of the press is absolutely essential to a functioning democracy, we’re excited to see Mastodon grow and become a household name in newsrooms around the world, and we’re committed to continuing to improve our software to face the new challenges that come with rapid growth and increasing demand,” he wrote.
Mastodon is a free, open source and self-hosted platform that has gained popularity recently. However, its user base still remains a small fraction of Twitter’s more than 238 million users.
Stuti Mishra December 21, 2022 10:30 am
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AOC slams Musk: ‘Leave proto-fascism’
ICYMI: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned billionaire Elon Musk after Twitter’s new boss suspended the accounts of half a dozen journalists who routinely report on him and the social media platform.
In response to the billionaire’s sudden ban on journalists, Ms Ocasio-Cortez suggested he should “step back and renounce proto-fascism”.
She pointed out that Mr. Musk is an extremely controversial and influential public figure. “I feel insecure, but the abuse of power + the chaotic banning of journalists only increases the intensity around you,” the Democratic lawmaker said.
As someone who has been the subject of real and dangerous conspiracies, I get it. I had no security and I’ve been through a lot of scary incidents,” she added.
“In fact, many of the right-wing outlets you are now promoting published published photos of my home, car, etc. At some point you have to disconnect. Maybe try putting your phone away,” she suggested.
Mr. Musk quickly replied: “You first, hahahaha.”
Graham Massey December 21, 2022 9:53 am
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Musk appears to be fueling the idea that bots were involved in the Twitter poll debacle
ICYMI: Mr. Musk on Monday night appeared to fuel the theory that bots were to blame for his defeat in a poll on whether he should stay on as Twitter’s CEO.
Earlier on Monday, an account with the username Wall Street Silver quote-tweeted a side-by-side comparison of the poll on whether to reinstate former President Donald Trump’s account with the poll on Mr. Musk’s continued leadership on Twitter.
The former poll had approximately 15 million votes and 836,000 likes, while the later poll had nearly 15 million votes and only 312,000 likes. This led Wall Street Silver to wonder, “Were there bots in Elon’s poll yesterday?”
Mr Musk replied: “Interesting.” It’s not clear why there would be any relationship between voting in a Twitter poll and liking a tweet, two different actions that don’t seem directly related.
Stuti Mishra December 21, 2022 8:50 am
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Musk says removing rival Mastodon’s link-posting accounts ‘mistake’
Elon Musk has admitted removing accounts for posting links to rival Mastodon was a “mistake” as he searches for a replacement after announcing he is stepping down.
Speaking on the Twitter space on Wednesday, Mr Musk was questioned about the suspension of accounts, such as that of venture capitalist Paul Graham, for posting links to Mastodon.
“Yes, it was a mistake,” Mr. Musk said when asked about banned users for mentioning Mastodon.
“I agree, it was a mistake,” the Tesla billionaire reiterated after being told a case could be made for stopping Kanye West and ElonJet.
He was then asked to clarify if people can post the Mastodon link now.
“Yeah, hell, I’ve been posting Mastodon all damn day, I don’t care,” he added.
Read the full story here:
Stuti Mishra December 21, 2022 7:51 am
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Musk Says ‘No Successor’
ICYMI: Even if Elon Musk steps down as head of Twitter, choosing a successor may not be so easy.
“No one wants the job that can actually keep Twitter alive,” he tweeted overnight. “There is no heir.”
One of those stepping forward to offer his services is Lex Friedman, an AI researcher, computer scientist, and popular podcast host.
“Let me get Twitter going for a bit,” he tweeted at Musk. “There is no salary. Focus on great engineering and increasing the amount of love in the world. I’m just offering my help in the unlikely event that it’s helpful.
Musk replied: “You must really like pain. One catch: you have to invest your life savings in Twitter, and it’s been on the fast lane for bankruptcy since May. Do you still want the job?’
Graham Massey December 21, 2022 6:10 am
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ICYMI | Elon Musk warned of EU sanctions
ICYMI: Officials in Brussels have warned Elon Musk that Twitter could face “sanctions soon” after it kicked a series of journalists off its platform.
European Commissioner Vera Jourova said the suspensions were “worrying” and that EU law protects media freedom. “The news of the arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is alarming,” Ms. Jourova said.
The commissioner, who is the European Commission’s vice-president for values and transparency, said: “The EU Digital Services Act requires respect for media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced by our #MediaFreedomAct.
“Elon Musk must be aware of this. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon.”
Graham Massey December 21, 2022 5:04 am
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Twitter’s new policy favors paying subscribers
ICYMI: John Beecy has a rundown of Mr. Musk’s announcement Monday night that only paying Twitter subscribers will be able to vote for…
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