What is Twitter’s Real Problem?
Is it Musk? Trump? Right or Left-wing trolls? Us, maybe?
Elon Musk now owns Twitter. As I once wrote, when the mega-rich get tired of yachts, space travel, sports teams, new and younger partners, restaurants, homes, and on and on…they opt for media. Think Bezos, Marc Benioff, Warren Buffett, and William Randolph Hearst to name a few.
I don’t begrudge him. Nor do I blame him for the overnight and significant increase in hate talk, Anti-Semitism, use of the N-word, and generally miserable—unacceptable in “polite company” as they used to say—behavior.?
No surprise here. He made clear his intentions:
“The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.”
Further, he added:
“There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far-right wing and far-left wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.”?
Let’s be clear: social media is built on siloed echo chambers. The dirty secret is that more traditional media sources seek out the social shared messages they abhor…that make their various cases and amplify them via the reverse megaphone effect.?
And of course, it's that flywheel that drives revenue.
Musk tried to slightly mitigate his position by saying that he bought Twitter to:
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“Try to help humanity, whom I love.” He added that Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape.”
Which it is and has been, depending upon which of the extremes is opining.?
Yet, Dear Readers, don’t blame Elon, and don’t be surprised when Kanye and Trump return with their flip side of the coin counterparts…after all, the guy owns it and wants to make money. And, more importantly, he was crystal clear about his intentions…full transparency.?
No, the issue is us…you and me…the ad industry, investors, Wall Street, and regulators. For too long we have allowed media companies to parade as everything but. We call them Tech Giants as they rake in the money from advertising that’s generated by the strife, fake news, hate-filled controversy, and the unregulated swamp they have created.?
“Old Media”, a misnomer and canard, public or private, had to play by some rules of decency and respect for us all. As I have written about many times, check out the CBS Radio story and Father Coughlin…a virulent Anti-Semite of pre-WWII United States whose evil and hatred set a standard.?
I also posit that the Walter Cronkite-type figures (look him up) many pine for, whose credibility and truth-telling cut in all directions, existed because there was a standard and respect for veracity and even handiness.?
Don’t blame Elon…he is as much a creature of the system he just bought as he is of a successful business. He leveraged it advantageously to increase his valuations and will now take it to new heights and us to new lows.?
I have seen the enemy. And it is us.
What’s your view?
I run a global all-girl think tank driving the next wave of Intelligence, Innovation, technology and consumer growth. 0. 12.24 THE ASCENT BEGINS.
2 年David Sable the next evolution is not a machine but the human mind, it is not about thinking differently but using all the tech nature gave us.. consciousness is the path to not just freedom but knowledge beyond the known.. we let tech control our mind, and our destiny
Civil and Human Rights Advocate, Mental Health Advocate, Retired Human Resources Executive
2 年Sure, it is theoretically "us." But, in my opinion, the biggest accountability rests with powerful sources, particularly the very wealthy who wield big sticks and who inordinately control the various levers of power. Unfortunately, many of those folks are also seen as leaders...leaders that many of "us" blindly follow, often without using our own reasoning power and intelligence. In short, we're gullible. And, unfortunately, the most aggressive leaders/power brokers seem to command the most attention and attract the most aggressive followers. That's a poisonous recipe. I'm on record. I will go on record again. I think that Musk's control of Twitter will trend badly for democratic processes...around the world. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so. I think that I understand his core values.
I am a international Expat looking for expat employment in heavy equipment mechanical and electrical engineering. Power generation, marine oil and gas, earth moving equipment and mining experience. I AM FM PHA
2 年It does not matter same people in the middle. Making space for them self and their families and the rest of the world blind.
◆ Helping People Make Sense of Technology ◆ Technology Geek ◆ Skilled Online Marketer
2 年I agree! "I have seen the enemy. And it is us."
"Sr. Global Learning & Development Director | Specializing in Employee Training, Quality Assurance, Performance Management, and Organizational Development."
2 年It is us; we all want to be heard few of us want to listen.