Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter has not gone according to plan. He has owned the site for roughly two weeks and has already had to reverse a major change he made to the site only days prior.
On Thursday, during an all-hands meeting, Musk said that “bankruptcy wasn’t out of the question” and that he “did not know” the burn rate the company had left before bankruptcy would be needed.
On Friday, Twitter ceased new Twitter Blue subscriptions and the new verified checkmarks that came with the $8-a-month purchase. It came after a predictable wave of scammers and impersonators used the new checkmarks for ill intent. Multiple brands were forced to disavow fake tweets made in their name.
Twitter was quick to act to Musk’s reversal:
If Elon Musk wanted to monetize the behavior of blue-check journalists, he should've made Tweetdeck a paid product—which the former Twitter management was already considering. (I'd put a few bucks on Musk still not knowing what Tweetdeck is.)
— Scott Nover (@ScottNover) November 11, 2022
“If Elon Musk wanted to monetize the behavior of blue-check journalists, he should’ve made Tweetdeck a paid product—which the former Twitter management was already considering. (I’d put a few bucks on Musk still not knowing what Tweetdeck is.)” Scott Nolver said.
Tesla down $6 because Twitter blue disappeared. That’s how silly this is getting. Tesla is Tesla. They are doing just fine. Most of the world doesn’t care about twitter. They care about high gas prices. $tsla
— Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) November 11, 2022
“Tesla down $6 because Twitter blue disappeared. That’s how silly this is getting. Tesla is Tesla. They are doing just fine. Most of the world doesn’t care about twitter. They care about high gas prices.” Ross Gerber tweeted.
I just need to point out that Stephen King has played a key role in undermining both the PRH/SS merger AND Elon Musk’s Twitter Blue nonsense. Pretty amazing. https://t.co/QvObSfc3SU
— Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing) November 11, 2022
“I just need to point out that Stephen King has played a key role in undermining both the PRH/SS merger AND Elon Musk’s Twitter Blue nonsense. Pretty amazing,” Celeste Ng said.
the current problem is awesome. they could solve it by just making the Twitter Blue check a new color or shape but Elon has the stupid brain of someone who was bullied until he was 29 so he can’t look like he’s backing down. all while needing to sell 12.5 mil to service debt
— Lead Actor from Pixar’s Sodas (@ByYourLogic) November 11, 2022
“The current problem is awesome. They could solve it by just making the Twitter Blue check a new color or shape but Elon has the stupid brain of someone who was bullied until he was 29 so he can’t look like he’s backing down. all while needing to sell 12.5 mil to service debt,” Felix Bierdman wrote.
Twitter has not released a statement on the change. The company fired its communications department last week.
