Twitter may undergo a face-lift soon, and the usual suspects are losing it. On Monday, Elon Musk indicated his desire to move forward with a deal to purchase Twitter. This announcement came months after his initial offer and right before a scheduled trial in Twitter’s lawsuit against him. Now, Twitter is brimming with equal parts excitement and impending doom.
Some who are deeply entrenched in Twitter think that it is the center of the universe. But when compared to sites from around the world, Twitter isn’t even in the top ten. In just the United States, Twitter ranks third in terms of site visits on social media platforms. Facebook continues to dominate by a large percentage. But it feels as if Twitter matters much more, even if it really doesn’t. The format and instant access to news and newsmakers is key. Politics is a major modern religion, and the portal is Twitter.
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In recent years, there have been a host of Twitter-like sites developed to appeal to non-leftists. They include Gab, Parler, and Donald Trump’s own site called Truth Social. Republicans, conservatives, and others have largely felt Big Tech is out to get or exclude them. There is obvious bias on Twitter. Many accounts, either generally hostile or terroristic in nature, remain untouched, and seemingly minor infractions committed by those to the right of the center can get one banned or suspended for good. Navigating the Twittersphere can be exhausting.
With a potential Musk takeover, leftists are once again growing concerned about the future of Twitter. It is ironic, to say the least.
Ben Collins at NBC News tweeted, “Yes, I do think this site can and will change pretty dramatically if Musk gets full control over it. If it gets done early enough, based on the people he’s aligned with, yes, it could actually affect midterms.” He went on to say, “If Musk is really taking this site private, there are no real guardrails anymore. Rulemaking can be capricious.”
Those are odd claims considering the “standards” at Twitter have been inconsistent all along.
Kevin Roose of the New York Times wrote, “Virtually every Twitter employee I’ve spoken to in the last six months has told me that he or she plans to leave if Mr. Musk takes over.” Clearly, there is great reluctance to accept a Musk-controlled Twitter.
However, a revived offer from Musk and hesitation from Twitter employees and users do not mean anything is certain. Given the timeline so far, who knows if the Musk deal will go through. However, it still highlights the fact that so many place emphasis on Twitter being a fair platform. But “fair” continues to be subjective, as the reaction from leftists shows.
What exactly would a Musk-owned Twitter look like? Maybe former President Donald Trump would be invited back. Maybe suspended accounts would be welcome again. Maybe banning would become a rare action. If those sound like bad outcomes, leaving Twitter may be your best bet. For those who want a site that allows almost everything and everyone, regardless of political persuasion, this would be a welcome change from the current version.
Whether Elon Musk buys Twitter or not, it’s a private company. The owner and board can do as they please. Not a single user is required to sign in and use the site. It is certainly not a First Amendment issue. You have the right to neither an audience nor engagement on Twitter.
Leftists who have enjoyed the privilege of like-minded leadership at Twitter may experience something new on the platform: an attempt at balance and openness. This possible course correction appears extreme. In reality, it might finally create the closest thing to a level playing field.
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Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
