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Elon Musk’s Twitter Stake Is Promising, but Not a Permanent Fix for Free Speech

As social media has devolved from a free speech zone to a censorious minefield (my take) or a cesspool of misinformation from which people should be protected (according to people who are wrong) or just a shitty-algorithm-driven mess (probably true), the standard response to critics has been: build an alternative! There are now a lot of options available, many more popular than others. Elon Musk is a billionaire tech entrepreneur. Buy a stakePromote free speech on an established platform. Although this is a good thing for short-term open discussion, it does not provide a solution to intolerance.

Elon Musk bought a 9.2% share in Twitter Inc., one week after hinting that he may shake up social media. Bloomberg News reportedThis Monday Musk, too gained a seatThe company’s board members.

Musk’s hints about the “shake-up” are what Musk refers to as starting a new social media platformIt would be open-source and more committed to freedom of speech than the much-criticized main platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Musk became Twitter’s biggest shareholder before YouTube. Schedule13GHe revealed the acquisition. asked Twitter usersWhether they believed that “Twitter strictly adheres to” free speech. 70% of respondents chose “no” as their answer.

Musk’s take is supported by many, including Jack Dorsey who was a founder of Twitter. retweeted a related pollHe discussed the importance to base the social media platform upon open-source algorithms. He Twitter CEO, stepping downLast year, Dorsey resigned from the board of directors. While Dorsey was criticised for his time as CEO, there were indications that he was an advocate of free speech, navigating conflicts between government demands and politicized employees, and avoiding hatred factions within a society.

The pressure is from above as well as below. The United States Senate is basically telling you: “Nice little social networking you have there. “Really shameful for anything to happen, David Stack,” tech entrepreneur David Stack Last week, Bari Weiss was informed. “From below you have employees and tweet mobs, basically creating these boycotts of the company and putting pressure on its management.”

Dorsey criticizedThe suppression by his company of the since-verified Hunter Biden laptop story, It was long resistibleHis own workers called for the removal of former President Donald Trump’s platform. He told Congress that neither government nor tech companies should be banned.Arbiters of truth.” He left a company that was once billed as “The Best.”the free speech wing of the free speech party.”

“Anyone who harbors concerns that social media have already grown too intolerant of dissenting opinions—too inclined to silence viewpoints that depart from liberal orthodoxy—should be worried about Dorsey leaving,” There are reasonsRobby Soave, SubmittedIt was at that time.

Dorsey is now regrets the centralization of the internet ChampionsBluesky. Project intendedTo restore “people’s freedom to interact with and create content without any intermediary.” Decentralized platforms would not have kill switches, or be able to transform public panics into policies. Instead users would control their experiences.

However, the main problem with alternative platforms is not public pressure or commercial shunning but attracting users. Although some attempts have been made, they are not perfect.Cough Parler CoughIt has been a mistake for those working to build new social media platforms to rely on services offered by businesses that are hostile. It isIt is possible to create an independent platform which can be used for its own purposes.

“For the past four year we were banned by multiple cloud hosting provider and we were told to ‘build your own’ it if we did not like it.” Gab is a Twitter competitor that the right-wing nationalists love. In 2020. “So that’s what we did.”

Gab was born in 1994. Video has been expanded Now is the time to start workingto advertise and pay using payment systems. Although it is successful, the company caters only to a very niche audience that has a similar worldview. This isn’t true for all, but I am happy to report it.

Many people are hopeful that Musk’s substantial stake in Twitter, and his participation on the board of it, will lead to a renewed commitment by “free speech wings” at larger platforms shared with people from different points of view. A self-proclaimed “free-speech absolutistcritic of politicized environmental, social, and governance standardsMusk, who is a businessman and investor, has sent out a clear message to all of tech, Twitter workers, and everyone else, whatever his motivations.

Will Musk now push for Twitter’s change in its moderating policy to allow free speech? The New York Times SpeculativeOn Monday. Will he press for Twitter’s algorithm to be open? This is what the former C.E.O. and co-founder of Twitter has been asking. Jack Dorsey was seen to be supporting last week. “Musk is friendly with Dorsey.

The problem with any movement that is centered around one individual is that it is not as strong as the person who shares their flaws or vulnerabilities. Musk is Already at WarWith the Securities and Exchange Commission. They aren’t afraid to ask questions Use its power to defeat opponents. It could be a Twitter tweet. Further regulatory attentionHe could also be hindered by his efforts. Musk is also a spokesman. Retaliation allegations made against himAgainst critics in his company as well as within the Outside world. It’s clear that whatever the truth, you can see that the Twitter power he holds could be used just as well. ForIt is free speech in its favor.

While Elon Musk has acquired a substantial stake in Twitter, as well as a seat on the board that allows him to direct its policies, it is still a temporary win for advocates of free speech. This is a good reminder for self-righteous people that they are not in control and that there are still ways to tolerate dissent.

The long-term solution to protecting freedom of speech cannot be found in one individual. Alternatives that appeal to diverse audiences are needed, and not dependent on their critics. It is important to encourage decentralization, which allows individuals to manage their experiences and prevents government pressure from trying hard to silence those they don’t consider worthy. Most importantly, however, we must promote a culture that encourages free speech, regardless of whether or not others agree with our views.