It’s been an odd time for Twitter users; after initially opting to become a majority shareholder and hold a seat on Twitter’s board of directors, Tesla CEO and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk eventually refused that offer and attempted to buy the social media site outright. His first offer of $41 billion was apparently denied when Twitter opted to adopt a “poison pill” strategy to dilute its stock value and deter a complete buyout. However, days afterward, Musk and Twitter made a deal, and, surprisingly enough, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey seems to be excited about it.
When news of Musk’s purchase broke on April 25, 2022, Dorsey composed a Twitter thread that began with a link to the Radiohead song “Everything In Its Right Place.” He then offered his thoughts on the deal, remarking that “Twitter as a company has always been my sole issue and my biggest regret,” and that “Elon is the singular solution I trust." Given the back and forth between Musk and Twitter that had been going on and Twitter’s aforementioned poison pill strategy meant to ward Musk away, Dorsey’s remarks may seem like a sudden change of tune.
However, Musk’s eagerness to preserve free speech and authenticate all human users does seem to be in line with Dorsey’s belief that Twitter represents a “global consciousness.” Dorsey, of course, opts to see the social media platform in a positive light, and there is certainly a lot of good that has stemmed from Twitter. From Twitter bots helping out viewerless Twitch streamers to the platform serving as a way for smaller developers without massive budgets to market their games and build an audience, Twitter has done quite a bit for the world of gaming alone.
Yet, Elon Musk once called Twitter the "Dark Souls of social media" for a reason; it’s no secret that toxic communities have sprung up due in some part to the platform. Twitter’s new owner was likely joking around when he made that comparison back in 2018—he subsequently suggested that Reddit would be Bloodborne and Instagram would somehow be The Legend of Zelda—but it does, in a way, underline the issues with the site. If Jack Dorsey can get behind Musk’s vision for the service, then perhaps skeptical users can, as well.
For most, Twitter will remain a space to catch up on trending topics, talk with other members of communities in which they are interested, and perhaps watch a bot meticulously make its way through the first Doom game. However, those deeply concerned with the change in ownership may take solace in Dorsey’s trust in Twitter’s new owner.