Elon Musk

Jack Dorsey On Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover: “He Should Have Walked Away”

by

Jack Dorsey says that Elon Musk should’ve walked away from the deal to purchase Twitter, last year. The co-founder and former CEO of the social media site discussed Musk’s job running Twitter while replying to a user on his new platform, Bluesky.

“No. Nor do I think he acted right after realizing his timing was bad,” Dorsey wrote in response, as noted by Insider. “Nor do I think the board should have forced the sale. It all went south.”

Jack Dorsey’s New Social Media Platform

The Bluesky social media app logo is seen on a mobile device in this photo illustration in Warsaw, Poland on 21 April, 2023. Founder Jack Dorsey of twitter has released the Bluesky application on Android. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Dorsey added: “If Elon or anyone wanted to buy the company, all they had to do was name a price that the board felt was better than what the company could do independently. This is true for every public company. Was I optimistic? Yes. Did I have final say? No. I think he should have walked away and paid the $1b.”

The new comments go against Dorsey’s original opinion on Musk’s acquisition from last year. At the time, he argued that Musk is the “singular solution” to furthering the success of Twitter. “In principle, I don’t believe anyone should own or run Twitter. It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company,” Dorsey wrote back then. “Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness.”

In his time since taking over Twitter, Musk has been the center of numerous controversies regarding decisions made for the platform. Most recently, he stripped verification from almost all accounts and replaced the blue check mark as a feature for users who purchase Twitter Blue. This has led to confusion as to which accounts for public figures are legitimate. Musk later gifted many celebrities Twitter Blue who previously refused to participate in the service.

Jack Dorsey’s Bluesky Posts Regarding Elon Musk & Twitter

[Via]

Elon Musk Drops Twitter Labels Amidst Backlash

by

Elon Musk has decided to drop Twitter’s media labels “State Affiliated” and “Government Funded” after receiving heavy backlash. Media entities such as NPR and PBS vehemently objected to the descriptions. Both networks halted the use of the social network owned by Musk in protest. However, this change has caused much controversy. The labels were designed to limit the spread of state-sponsored propaganda on the Elon Musk-owned social media site. Reportedly, by NPR reporter Bobby Allyn, Musk claimed that the decision to drop the media label was made by Walter Isaacson. Isaacson is working on a book about the Twitter owner.

Furthermore, NPR and PBS have not resumed the use of Twitter since suspending their activity earlier this month. Not only that, Twitter has since removed all “state-affiliated” and “government funded” labels from the site. Not to mention including accounts operated by huge news organizations like BBC, CBC, ABC, and a slew of others. Additionally, Elon Musk has been making more significant changes to the once popular bird app. Twitter recently removed “visibility filtering” restrictions on government accounts. According to NPR, from an ex-Twitter employee, at the direction of Elon Musk, Russia, Iran, and China were the three accounts to have visibility filtering removed.

Elon Musk Faces Backlash For New Changes To Twitter

Elon Musk changed his Twitter profile to “Chief Twit” and posted video of himself walking into the social network’s California headquarters carrying a sink, days before his contentious takeover of the company must be finalized. (Photo by various sources / AFP) (Photo by -/Twitter account of Elon Musk/AFP via Getty Images)

The restriction was designed to thwart the spread of state-sponsored propaganda from those regimes. Nonetheless, the controversy comes just after Elon Musk greenlit the addition of the new labels to several organizations that previously didn’t have such titles. After labeling NPR with such labels NPR said it was suspending Twitter activity. The media sited noted that the label “undermine[s] our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent.” Reportedly, less than 1% of NPR’s average annual operating budget comes from federal grants.

The label eradication came Friday the day after Musk revoked thousands of blue checks from a myriad of accounts of celebrities, influencers, and athletes. The move was designed to boost subscription rates and revenue. However, the Tesla tycoon conveniently framed it as democratizing the user-verification process (make it make sense). How do you feel about Twitter in the Elon Musk era? Are you buying a blue check? Let HNHH know in the comments below!

[Via]

GloRilla Asks For Blue Check Back, Gets Roasted

by

GloRilla seems to be one of the only people who didn’t know about Elon Musk’s blue check purge that started last week. The internet has been exploding with stories about it. Celebrities have been complaining left and right. Threats have been leveraged at the Twitter CEO. Dead celebrities have been getting blue checks back. The whole thing has been a pretty big mess. Somehow, GloRilla had no idea any of this was happening. To be fair, she was likely pretty busy with her Coachella performance and her lawsuit. Still, fans are roasting her for it. The rapper took to the social media platform to complain about her sudden lack of blue check.

“Elon be acting slow ash sometimes…. cause were my blue check go???????” GloRilla asked in a now-deleted tweet. Fans of course immediately took the tweet and ran with it, responding by roasting the rapper. “No, you the slow one! Everyone been knew it was happening and it did,” one user said. “Pay that 8 bucks a month.” GloRilla did not respond to the tweet, but the fact that the rapper deleted the original tweet says it all. How she didn’t know about the entire thing is a mystery. Many celebrities have been complaining about it for a while now. The rapper’s account now displays a blue check, suggesting that she paid for it.

GloRilla’s Twitter Drama

Although GloRilla is relatively new to the music scene, she does not take criticism lightly. In a recent tweet, the rapper warned her haters not to let her know if they don’t like her. If they do, she said she will do everything in her power to bother them. “I never gave a single f*ck about a h*/n*gga not liking me,” she said in the tweet. “Im finna work yo nerves & do everything in my power to make you hate me ho.”

Earlier this year, GloRilla was in the news after a stampede occurred at her concert, which resulted in three deaths. During a joint concert with Finesse2Tymes, a gunshot was reportedly heard, causing the audience to rush towards the exit and resulting in the tragic incident. Initially, one person was confirmed dead, and two others were in critical condition, but unfortunately, both victims have now passed away. GloRilla expressed her condolences on Twitter, but one of the victim’s families is planning to sue her. What do you think of Gorilla’s lack of awareness? Let us know in the comments.

[Via]

Lil Nas X Says Elon Musk Will “Feel My Wrath” Amid Twitter’s Blue Check Drama

by

Lil Nas X threatened to bring his “wrath” down upon Elon Musk after his Twitter account was given a blue check mark, despite him not paying for verification. The rapper previously told fans he wouldn’t pay for Twitter Blue to get the feature on his page. Nas is one of many celebrities who have complained about getting the blue check mark despite not paying.

“On my soul, I didn’t pay for Twitter Blue. You will feel my wrath, Tesla man!” Nas wrote on Twitter, Saturday night. Fans shared plenty of jokes in response. One wrote: “I’ll buy it for you. I’ll buy you anything. I’ll give you the world baby girl. One dm please bb.” Another joked: “You mean the soul you sold to satan? You’re never beating the satan allegations.” Some fans took Elon Musk’s side in the beef. One user argued: “It’s actually hilarious so many celebs like you will sell their soul in the name of making money and getting famous. Now @elonmusk challenges your authority, and you show your true colors…”

Lil Nas X At New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Lil Nas X wears circle glasses, a silver large nose piercing, a white shirt, a green with white print pattern blazer jacket, outside Thom Browne, during New York Fashion Week, on February 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

The Twitter drama began last week when all users who weren’t subscribed to Twitter Blue lost their verification. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez complained that the move would lead to more confusion about the legitimacy of posts on the platform. “Jokes aside, this is setting the stage for major potential harm when a natural disaster hits and no one knows what agencies, reporters, or outlets are real,” the congresswoman tweeted. “Not long ago we had major flash floods. We had to mobilize trusted info fast to save lives. Today just made that harder.”

Among the first celebrities to get unknowingly verified were LeBron James and Stephen King. Both of them very publically criticized Musk for Twitter’s new verification model. “I’m paying for a few personally,” Musk confirmed on Twitter once users took note.

Lil Nas X Targets Elon Musk

[Via]

Lil Nas X Vows Vengeance Against Elon Musk After His Blue Check On Twitter Reappeared: ‘You Will Feel My Wrath, Tesla Man’

by
Lil Nas X Pre-Grammy Gala 2023
Getty Image

Lil Nas X might be the music industry’s most beloved internet troll, but he wants to ensure fans know he isn’t a liar. The “Industry Baby” rapper has remained an open book since breaking into the spotlight. From racy photoshoots to poking fun at his sexual orientation and religious beliefs, the entertainer has shared much of himself with the public. However, after he regained his verified blue check on Twitter, fans began to whisper that the star went back on his word to not give into the site’s CEO Elon Musk’s new pay-for-verification policy.

After self-appointing himself, the new CEO of the social media app, Lil Nas X, jumped onto the platform to address the rumors. In a post, Lil Nas X joking vowed to seek vengeance against Musk, writing, “On my soul, I didn’t pay for Twitter Blue. You will feel my wrath, Tesla man!”

One fan chimed in to joke about how others promised that should the musician’s verified status be revoked; they would fork up the cash for him to retain his coveted blue check.

Lil Nas X could be telling the truth. Musk had previously confessed to coming out of his pocket to pay for several notable public figures’ Twitter Blue subscriptions after they refused to do so.

Dead Celebs Get Blue Checkmark In Latest Twitter Update

by

It’s safe to say that Elon Musk’s plan to revamp Twitter checkmarks isn’t going great. April 20 marked the day that “legacy verification”, checkmarks held by prominent figures, would be removed. If someone wanted to retain their checkmark, they would have to pay the $8 fee for Twitter Blue.

According to reports, only around 30 previously verified accounts paid for Twitter Blue after losing their checkmark. Furthermore, that figure itself could be inflated as Musk claimed he was paying for several checkmarks himself. After Musk consulted his wise council (read: looking at replies from Twitter Blue subscribers), he instituted a few changes. Twitter brand partners, such as the MLB, were given a form of a legacy checkmark. Additionally, any account with over 1 million followers was also given a checkmark. However, that has led to a new problem for Musk

Kobe Bryant, Anthony Bourdain, Other Late Figures Get Checkmarks

As part of the update that gave checkmarks to accounts with more than 1 million followers, the accounts of deceased individuals were also given checkmarks. Screenshots were shown of the accounts of Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, Norm McDonald, and Anthony Bourdain. On the surface, verifying the accounts of deceased individuals is a good idea. It prevents fraud and the desecration of their memory. Impersonation has been a major problem throughout the Twitter Blue process and was made worse with so many accounts choosing not to buy Twitter Blue. However, people have taken issue with the way deceased individuals’ accounts were handled in regard to gaining a checkmark.

Clicking on the checkmark of a Twitter Blue account reveals a pop-up that reads “This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number.” The problem, for many people, is that this is the same text used on the accounts of deceased individuals. At best, it’s an oversight that reads in poor taste when implemented. However, at worse, it’s the implication that Twitter has put its own stamp on the accounts of people who can’t object. Overall, it speaks to the glib and rash way Musk has led Twitter. The social media platform is now one that reactively responds to problems, rather than proactively working to avoid them.

[via]

Is The Influencer Era Over? Verified Check Marks Are “Lame” Now

by

Twitter Check Marks

In a surprising move by Elon Musk, all celebrities, including those with established followings, have had their verified check marks removed, and now the only way to get verified is to pay for it. This has sparked a larger conversation about the role of influencers in society and whether the era of the social media […]

The post Is The Influencer Era Over? Verified Check Marks Are “Lame” Now appeared first on SOHH.com.

Tyreek Hill Questions Elon Musk’s Method Of Twitter Blue

by

Tyreek Hill is just as confused as the rest of us when it comes to Twitter Blue. On Thursday, Twitter rolled out its newest verification system. However, the most significant talking point was many losing their check mark. In order to keep your verification on the site, users must pay a monthly fee. Many athletes and celebrities have long expressed their displeasure with Twitter’s decision to roll out the new verification system. One of the biggest names that were against the idea of Twitter Blue was LeBron James. However, on Thursday morning, it seemed that the Lakers star had decided to pay for the service. But that isn’t the case.

Twitter owner Elon Musk stated on Twitter that he is footing the bill for James’ Twitter Blue verification. Along with paying for other celebrities and athletes. Musk’s announcement confused many in the Twitter world. Including athletes like Hill. Hill tweeted Friday his question of wondering why Musk could pay for James’ verification but not Patrick Mahomes. Not shortly after that tweet, Hill sent out another tweet saying that his tweet on Mahomes was probably going to be interpreted incorrectly. Check out Hill’s tweets below.

Tyreek Hill Having Fun With Twitter

Obviously, James and Mahomes are two of the biggest sports stars in North America. However, one has to wonder how Musk decided on which accounts to pay for. Recently, Mahomes and Hill were having a little fun with the Twitter Blue subscription plan. The former teammates shared a quick back-and-forth on Twitter, giving reasons as to why they couldn’t pay for the subscription. It appears that Mahomes nor Hill are forking up the monthly 8 dollars to remain verified.

Twitter Blue seems to still be in its infant stages. However, it has already made a difference in the way users approach their time on the site. Without verification, there is fear that more fake accounts will be created, causing mass confusion among those on the site. Twitter has made many big changes since Musk purchased the company. However, Twitter Blue looks to be the biggest change yet. Tyreek Hill is just one of many athletes that are refusing to keep their verification. This has many wondering if Twitter Blue will actually be successful. For the latest sports news, keep it right here with HNHH.