Photo by Victoria Arnold-Rees on World Trademark Review.
Twitter, originally launched in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, was designed as a simple microblogging platform. Its premise was straightforward: users could share real-time updates with the world in short, 140-character bursts (later expanded to 280). Over time, Twitter became more than just a platform for updates—it grew into a cultural powerhouse, influencing global discourse and shaping modern social media trends.
But as Twitter evolved, it also became a hotbed for more complex and often toxic phenomena. "Stan culture" and "cancel culture" are two notable examples. These trends thrived in Twitter's real-time, highly interactive environment, creating spaces for passionate engagement but also fostering a climate of hostility, harassment, and divisiveness.
A particularly vivid example of this toxicity occurred after the tragic murder of rapper XXXTENTACION in 2018. Rather than grieving respectfully, some "stan" accounts—often fanatical followers of K-pop stars—used the moment to flood the platform with irrelevant content, attacking those discussing the artist's death. This behavior, while not representative of all fans, highlighted the darker side of stan culture: how extreme loyalty can morph into disruptive and harmful actions.
Such incidents underscore how Twitter, once a platform for sharing ideas, often became a space where toxic behavior overshadowed positive interactions. This culture of divisiveness is just one of the issues that plagued Twitter before Elon Musk's acquisition. But since Musk took over, things have arguably taken a turn for the worse.
In October 2022, Elon Musk's highly publicized purchase of Twitter marked the beginning of a chaotic new chapter for the platform, now rebranded as X. Musk, known for his ambition to reshape industries, immediately set out to overhaul Twitter. However, his changes have sparked significant controversy and concern among users, advertisers, and regulators.
One of Musk's first moves was to dismantle Twitter's leadership team, firing or forcing out senior executives. While he aimed to realign the company with his vision, this rapid shake-up created a climate of uncertainty. The departures disrupted the platform's operational continuity and left many wondering where Twitter, or X as it's now known, was headed.
Under Musk’s leadership, X has also shifted towards a more right-wing orientation. His relaxation of content moderation policies has allowed controversial right-wing figures back onto the platform and created a more permissive environment for extreme political discourse. This shift has alienated many users and advertisers, who see X as increasingly catering to conservative ideologies. The platform now feels more like a right-wing echo chamber, reminiscent of apps like Truth Social, rather than the diverse forum it once was.
It’s hard not to wish Musk had simply left Twitter alone. Before his takeover, the platform had its problems, but it was a far cry from the polarized space it has become. Musk's vision for X seems to be pushing it further into a corner, alienating users who valued the broader, more balanced discussions that Twitter once allowed.
Recently, X was even banned in Brazil, a move that underscores just how far the platform has strayed from its original purpose. While I don't advocate for outright bans, I do believe it's time for alternatives like Bluesky or Threads to gain more traction. Unfortunately, despite the growing dissatisfaction with X, these alternatives haven't yet attracted a significant user base. Threads and Bluesky are still quiet compared to the chaotic buzz of X.
Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter was, in hindsight, a bad decision. It's clear that his vision for the platform doesn't align with what many users want, and the consequences of his leadership are becoming increasingly apparent. As X continues to spiral, one has to wonder: would we all be better off if Musk had never bought Twitter in the first place?
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