In a truly exceptional move that has sent shivers down the spines of the digital community, the great innovation and leadership figure that is Elon Musk has dropped an actual bomb—say it with me—the latest as in recent billionaire roadshow unveiling a pay-to-play model on his just purchased internet property, the once mighty hashtag #Twitter but now re-branded ‘X.’ Could you wait for it?
Like always, needing to be at the centre of attention, Musk doesn’t shy away from this controversy and instead advocates for a distinctive and expensive social life application. Implementing the new ‘X’ platform suggests users come up with a certain amount of money to cover the fee and reach people with their one’s opinions, musings, or hot thoughts. The exact cost is still unknown.
With this announcement, the Twitterverse has been in turmoil, with responses falling from outrage to resigned acceptance with opinions and positions in between. The company’s staunchest critics are those who denounce it as a baseless attempt to engage in profiteering, saying that it is damaging to the very culture of true speech and unrestricted debate that once characterized the platform. Some even supported Musk’s arrogance, but I am more inclined to consider it a definite and important step to greener social media.
At the heart of this seismic shift lies a fundamental question: What stands out in the information era in which views become currency? Will the global digital square take the shape of free spirit, or must the power of monetization take a place in it? As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: Musk’s latest coup has left the future of filtration ads mogul to face off against two mighty foes—the idea of a free market online and business as usual.
