The Perils of Product Management: When a Single Misstep Can Cause Chaos

Elon Musk, despite his many successes, appears to be struggling as Twitter's product manager with the controversial $8 blue check monetization strategy.

In this article, we explore the opinions of Elon Musk, users, and celebrities on the blue check monetization strategy and the potential for growth.

A typical social media platform's product strategy is simple: provide user-friendly tools for content creation and consumption, and monetize through ads. As such, a growth strategy would focus on offering innovative tools that promote content creation, engagement, and increased screen time, all while finding creative ways to place ads on the platform.

This approach has been the driving force behind every successful social media platform. TikTok, for instance, serves as a prime example of how innovative content creation and consumption can lead to rapid growth and wide-scale adoption.

However, Elon Musk's recent strategy to monetize users' verification (the blue check) has faced backlash from both content creators and consumers.

Elon Musk defends his stance by saying, "Twitter's current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark is bullshit." He also argues, "We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. It is the only way to defeat the bots & trolls. This will also give Twitter a revenue stream to reward content creators."

However, critics like Philip Lewis, a senior front page editor at the Huffington Post, believe this is a misunderstanding of how verification should work: "A blue check has been perceived as a status symbol for some time when really it’s just supposed to tell you if a page is authentic or not." More Users have also expressed their discontent, with one saying, "$8 for something that isn’t even ad-free is so funny."

The $8 fee has even prompted some celebrities to protest by refusing to pay for their blue check. Celebrities are even rebelling, as many celebrities have opted not to pay the fee, leaving content consumers unable to differentiate between genuine accounts and scammers, or any social media manipulators.

We all know that being a product manager is a tough gig, but it seems that even entrepreneurial legends like Elon Musk can struggle with striking the right balance.

Despite the backlash, it's essential to remember that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is no stranger to failure. His journey with SpaceX, marked by exploding rockets, demonstrates his ability to learn from setbacks and ultimately achieve success. The current Twitter situation could be likened to a stage in product development, where Musk is figuring out how things work before making them happen.

Conclusion

Being a product manager is undoubtedly a tough gig, and even entrepreneurial legends like Elon Musk can struggle to strike the right balance. As Musk navigates this tumultuous period for Twitter, we are reminded that the role of a product manager is anything but easy.

Despite the significant resistance from both content creators and consumers, this challenge may serve as a learning opportunity for the entrepreneur. As Musk has demonstrated in his other ventures, failure can be a stepping stone to success. To retain its position in the social media landscape, it's crucial for Twitter to reassess its strategy and prioritize user experience above all else.