What a 12 months for Twitter, huh?

The top of 2022 was a fairly terrible time on the ol’ microblogging web site, with Elon Musk’s takeover and subsequent shitstorm of idiocy, disorganization, and outright strangeness. There’s, frankly, too much to recap fully however, briefly, Musk brought the worst people back on the platform, fired the majority of Twitter’s workers, and has rolled-out (then un-rolled-out) half-assed options like pay-for-play verification. Oh, and advertisers have fled as a result of Twitter is basically unregulated within the curiosity of a misguided model of freedom of speech.

Sounds unhealthy, proper?

Nicely, buckle in, pal, as a result of shit’s about to worsen in 2023.

Give it some thought: The place are any indicators that issues will enhance? Elon’s brilliant tricolor plan for checkmarks? Please, somebody seize my fainting sofa. Fast, earlier than the genius overwhelms!

In all seriousness, Musk has arrange an ideal ecosystem for Twitter to deteriorate. A large platform like Twitter doesn’t die in a single fell swoop, barring an entire meltdown of the particular inside workings and servers as a result of it is so short-staffed of engineers. If something, Twitter will rework in drips and drabs, changing into much less enjoyable, much less usable, and extra annoying. Just like the social media websites of yore, it would die a sluggish, agonizing dying.

Musk already re-platformed everybody who was banned. Look what occurred with Ye (FKA Kanye West). Musk reinstated his previously restricted account, and the rapper promptly began posting heinous, antisemitic tweets. Ye acquired suspended, however for each world well-known musician granted entry to their account there shall be numerous extra nameless, hate-filled of us who get the identical. Musk wants to grant all suspended accounts amnesty. I am no boy genius, however I do not suppose accounts that acquired banned for hate speech will radically present a change of coronary heart.

Now take into consideration 2023: Because the U.S. enters into one other presidential election cycle, Twitter will flip right into a proverbial cesspool. (And it was already unhealthy sufficient pre-Musk, however a minimum of there have been groups devoted to correcting misinformation and banning hate speech.)

Former President Donald Trump has already introduced he is working once more, and he and his supporters have confirmed to be — how do I level this gently — the fucking worst on Twitter. Trump, whose account was reinstated by Musk, has held off on posting, however his supporters will little question push all of the worst conspiracy theories on the platform to assist their massive man.

Regular Election Twitter in and of itself is unbearable: Pundits posting consistently, “consultants” prognosticating off polls, everybody treating every second like a brand new catastrophe. Election Twitter is a frenetic, busy place stuffed with rumor and misinformation and alternatives for hate and, uh yeah, I am certain Musk’s skeleton crew will be capable to deal with it.

It isn’t that I would like the worst for Twitter. However I really feel snug saying completely nothing Musk has executed provides me any hope it would enhance. He is not really a free speech absolutist or somebody who understands Twitter like its most-engaged person base. All the things he is executed signifies he is only a red-pilled billionaire out of contact with actuality who believes conservative grievance-mongers really endure for his or her grift.

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So in fact the corporate seems to be failing. And as Twitter treads water — desperately offering advertisement deals like cut price bin CDs — it is robust to see how Musk will make things better. The ship is leaky, water’s coming in, and he is attempting to repair it by bailing with a shot glass (meaningless $8 subscriptions) as an alternative of a bucket (advertisements). However that is not completely why Twitter shall be worse subsequent 12 months — in spite of everything, Twitter was barely worthwhile earlier than Musk’s tenure.

No, it is that Musk simply would not get it. He is in his personal little bubble, and he would not appear to care to be taught. When a military of sycophants inform you that you are the one true Tech God for years, you would possibly simply begin to imagine them. I’ve written this before, however he is like a frat bro who buys a bar. Going to a bar is enjoyable; proudly owning a bar is figure. Tweeting cringey memes could be enjoyable; proudly owning Twitter will not be.

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Musk’s prime directives at Twitter appear to be, in some order, tweeting about proudly owning Twitter, doing code reviews, and publicly firing staff. So certain, he tweets an enormous recreation about issues like enhancing little one security…then guts the team that really does that. He complains, incorrectly, about Twitter’s velocity on Android…then fires the employee who corrects him on the causes of the problem and affords options. Musk feuds with congressmen, walks again COVID-19 misinformation insurance policies, and mocks issues important to Black Twitter staff. The place is the worth added? The place are issues going proper? We have seen zero proof of something useful or good.

The imaginative and prescient from Musk appears to be shitposting his manner by means of debacle after debacle. I’ve licked my finger, caught it within the wind, and forecasted the one course for Twitter in 2023 is down. We’re all on the metaphorical curler coaster, and this factor is whooshing towards the bottom. I’d inform you benefit from the trip, however everyone knows it will not be enjoyable.