An expensive side hustle that comes with responsibilities
Free-for-all on Musk's Twitter?
Musk's latest side hustle, Twitter, shouldn't be our concern on this warming, warring, polarizing, and increasingly hungry planet if it wasn't connected to these more significant issues. But, unfortunately, his shopping extravaganza can't be seen in isolation.
Do you remember this tweet?
The UN World Food Programme director, David Beasley, responded and offered to be on the next flight to meet Musk.
He explained that six billion dollars wouldn't solve world hunger, but it "Will prevent global political instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation."
Musk bought Twitter instead
Musk forgot about his tweet and didn't help the 42 million poor people suffering from hunger. Instead, he bought Twitter, dissolved the company's board, and made himself the "sole director" of the company.
In that role, he showed the world what more freedom on Twitter means by posting a tweet that promoted the baseless allegation that Paul Pelosi, the husband of Nancy Pelosi, had been drunk and in a fight with a male prostitute when he was attacked in the couple's home.
Musk shared an article from the Santa Monica Observer, a newspaper notorious for publishing false news. The same publication claimed six years ago that Hillary Clinton had died and that her body double debated the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. You get the picture.
I would love to write that Elvis is still alive, and get many retweets, after checking this assumption in the Santa Monica Observer. Perhaps they did write such an article. After all, the news site also incorrectly reported that Trump had appointed Kanye West to a high-level position in the Interior Department.
You will by now probably be able to guess which news site falsely stated that Bill Gates was responsible for a polio epidemic? Do you consider it trustworthy to promote their articles on Twitter?
Promoting a baseless allegation to a trending topic
Musk's reference to Santa Monica Observer's article soon became a trending topic, at which point he deleted his tweet. But the damage was done; more oil on the flames of polarization, hate speech, and misinformation in the days leading up to the elections.
Perhaps I should remind you of last week's open letter that Musk wrote to advertisers. I quote: "Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences," and: "Twitter aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world."
Ownership comes with a responsibility
Although Twitter is tiny in the number of users compared to the biggest social media platforms, it is immensely influential. It's the favorite platform of journalists and politicians. Tweets influence what happens in a world that faces global challenges that must be tackled by well-informed leaders who must bridge their differences.
Neither our leaders nor we who vote for them need to be further polarized in a free-for-all hellscape where even the sole director can say anything without consequences.
The number of people suffering from chronic hunger worldwide has climbed this year to 811 million; 42 million can rightfully ask why this Twitter gig is worth more than their health and future.
But it’s unlikely that you will read this on Twitter.
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The back page
On this day, a year ago, I wrote:
Notes:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/elon-musk-un-world-hunger-famine/
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/01/elon-musk-tells-un-food-chief-hell-spend-6-billion-to-fight-hunger.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-twitter-latest-board-director-b2214457.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/31/elon-musk-paul-pelosi-tweet-twitter
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-10-31/santa-monica-observer-elon-musk-paul-pelosi
Well said! Thank you for this.
Luna sure has a fan in Switzerland. What a cutie. Thanks for adding her.
It’s appalling that a social media company is now at the whim & mercy of the unrestrained undisciplined moods of someone somewhere on the autism spectrum. Without a board of directors to answer to, heaven help the world.