Debate Primer: Elon Musk and Twitter
As you have probably heard of by now, Elon Musk is attempting to buy Twitter. When the decision and deal was first announced, it seemed as though everyone on the internet had an opinion, which is why Political Union has decided to hold this debate. There are obviously consequences, both negative and positive; further centralization, less moderation, etc. The below articles can serve as helpful resources to inform your opinion before Monday’s debate. Enjoy!
This CNN Business article explains why Musk buying Twitter is such a big deal. I suggest reading only the first section, ending before “Musk takes control of the digital town square”. The first section is about 450 words.
This New Yorker Conversation goes way more in depth on the topic. The author, Issac Chotiner, talks to Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine, who has been extensively covering the news of this deal. While this article is on the longer side, it is organized in an interview format, making it topical and easy to read. Covering topics from Musk’s dealings with the SEC and his possible plans for the platform, this article paints an amazing picture of the different aspects of the Musk/Twitter news. The piece is about 3000 words.
As you may have heard, Musk’s deal for acquisition is currently on hold while he investigates a claim that less than 5% of users are spam/fake accounts. If you want to learn more about this, or its possible implications, I suggest this CNBC article. The piece is about 850 words.
Getting into more of the opinion side, below I suggest two articles arguing either for or against Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. Enjoy!
This Atlantic article provides some clarification on the future effects of a Musk owned Twitter, and also discusses why that future is a good thing. The piece is about 1300 words.
This Forbes article discusses the much needed reforms that social media companies need to make, and how a Musk owned Twitter will not live up to those changes. The piece is about 1000 words.
“Elon Musk and Twitter” by jiafu fu is marked with CC BY 2.0.