Twitter has tonight accepted Tesla titan Elon Musk’s offer to buy the company for $43 billion, announcing it will now go private.
While Twitter has been at the centre of political and social life globally, the 16-year-old social network has failed to turn its influence into a successful business. It has only turned an annual profit twice, in 2018 and in 2019. World’s richest man, Musk, 50, is yet to outline a clear plan for what he wants to do with Twitter, but has hinted at what he thinks should be part of the company’s future.
“Twitter has become kind of the de facto town square,” Musk told a conference in Vancouver earlier this month, on the day he announced his takeover offer, adding that he wanted to make it an “inclusive arena for free speech”.
That is likely to be good news for critics of the platform who say the company has censored views in recent years, coming to a head in the banning of Donald Trump last year. By contrast, Musk has said that Twitter should allow people to “speak freely within the bounds of the law”.
Ahead of the news that a deal had been reached, Musk said he hoped that even his “worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means”.
I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022
In a statement shared to his account this evening, Musk said that he wanted to make Twitter “better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans”.
🚀💫♥️ Yesss!!! ♥️💫🚀 pic.twitter.com/0T9HzUHuh6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022
Reaction has come spilling in online as speculation grew and confirmation of the deal finally broke this evening. With many of those with left-wing views not so happy, one commentator said that: “You can find me on Instagram if Elon Musk buys Twitter” is the new “I’m moving to Canada if Donald Trump becomes President.”
"You can find me on Instagram if Elon Musk buys Twitter" is the new "I'm moving to Canada if Donald Trump becomes President."
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 25, 2022
One tweet from writer Katie Herzog didn’t age so well, with her pledge to move country if Musk bought the platform garnering significant attention and replies.
If Elon Musk buys twitter I’m moving to Canada
— Katie Herzog (@kittypurrzog) April 25, 2022
With many left-wing commentators and liberals up in arms over Musk’s now-total control of the platform, one US congressman said that the Musk takeover of the platform meant it was “a bad time to be woke”.
Elon Musk is buying Twitter.
CNN+ is shutting down.
Disney is being reined in.
It's a bad time to be woke.
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) April 25, 2022
Some were able to see the funny side of things, with over 250,000 people liking a tweet from 2017 featuring a screenshot of Musk joking about buying the platform.
This exchange continues to haunt me pic.twitter.com/W06oSqx0MR
— Dave Smith (@redletterdave) April 25, 2022
the most expensive @twitter exchange, ever.
😅📱🛒 pic.twitter.com/d4dcrg4dR0
— Nick Speakman (@_Nick) April 25, 2022
And many pointed to the Twitter move against the wildly popular parody site The Babylon Bee, as what motivated Musk.
All Twitter had to do was leave the Babylon Bee alone
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 25, 2022
"Just look at the left's reaction, they're going absolutely nuts about this… because they're not afraid of being silenced, they're afraid of being challenged," said Babylon Bee CEO @SethDillon of reports Twitter is poised to agree to a sale to Elon Musk. #JohnBachmanNow pic.twitter.com/JABL8eGZgl
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 25, 2022
Others agreed that Musk had “won” Twitter.
Elon wins Twitter! #ElonMusk #ampFW https://t.co/sE3xgsW8Ri pic.twitter.com/nCVuXkUonL
— FreedomWorks (@FreedomWorks) April 25, 2022
Hey, Elon what did you do today?
"I just bought Twitter, no biggie." pic.twitter.com/3jyFROh8sC
— Ruth (@redusa21) April 25, 2022
Fox Host Jimmy Failla joked that the same people “freaking out” over Musk’s purchase of the platform were also the ones driving Tesla cars – adding that there was “never a dumber time to be alive”.
Elon Musk is buying Twitter and everyone freaking out drives a Tesla. There’s never been a dumber time to be alive.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) April 25, 2022
There was also bemused speculation that the move would see Twitter exile, former President Donald Trump, allowed to return to the platform soon.
https://twitter.com/ActuaIIyBarron/status/1518577924521275392?s=20&t=612yfcVqdVv-FxPrH4tifQ
Your favorite president is returning to Twitter. 😄
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 25, 2022