Disclaimer: This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.
Elon Musk’s potential takeover of Twitter has been anything but smooth. From temper tantrums by the employees and the Twitter mob to the speculation about the number of Twitter bots on the platform, this story has everyone on their toes.
Now, according to a report by the Washington Post, Musk plans to lay off a large portion of the Twitter workforce.
According to The Washington Post:
“Twitter’s workforce is likely to be hit with massive cuts in the coming months, no matter who owns the company. Interviews and documents obtained by The Washington Post show a change likely to have major impact on its ability to control harmful content and prevent data security crises.”
The SpaceX CEO informed the prospective investors in his Twitter purchase that his plans for the social media company include cutting three-quarters of Twitter’s employee base.
“Elon Musk told prospective investors in his deal to buy the company that he planned to get rid of nearly 75 percent of Twitter’s 7,500 workers, whittling the company down to a skeleton staff of just over 2,000.”
Now here’s where you need to read between the lines, “It will have an impact on its ability to control harmful content.”
In other words, they will no longer have the ability to squash conservative content.
Neither Twitter nor Musk’s attorney Alex Spiro has immediately responded to messages asking for a comment on the allegations.
Employees knew that job cuts were coming whether or not the company was sold. Current management planned to reduce the company’s payroll over the next year but no one expected the cuts to be of this magnitude.
Musk hinted at the need to purge the company of some of the staff, but he never gave a percentage or number. A 75% decrease will leave the social media giant with a skeleton crew.
Some people may have doubts, but Musk has a track record of success. Back in April, he texted Twitter’s current CEO Parag Agrawal with his ideas regarding the company.
“I have a ton of ideas,” Musk texted, “but lmk if I’m pushing too hard. I just want Twitter to be maximum amazing.”
Some speculate that he plans to have people pay money to tweet, get rid of the Twitter bots, and create a place where anyone can say whatever they want as long as it’s not illegal.
Remember the First Amendment right to free speech?
Musk understands the power of Twitter and wants to change it for the better. Only when there is an open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas can democracy stand.
These principles are vital to our constitutional republic and the promotion of human rights and freedom. You cannot simply erase people and speech that you do not like.
Twitter has somehow declared itself the arbiter of truth. Here’s to hoping that Elon Musk gives us back our constitutional right to say what we want!
