Sign in

‘Twitter has much potential to be…’: Elon Musk on his impact on social media

Musk earlier said he wanted to expand the reach of Twitter beyond the current "niche" until most Americans use the social media platform.

Published on: May 3, 2022, 22:58:41 IST
By | Written by , New Delhi
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk said on Tuesday Twitter has the potential to be the most "trusted and broadly inclusive forum" in the world. Musk has signed a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion, raising questions among employees and the public about his strategy for running the social media network.

Elon Musk and his mother Maye Musk arrive for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  (AFP)
Elon Musk and his mother Maye Musk arrive for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  (AFP)

"There is so much potential with Twitter to be the most trusted & broadly inclusive forum in the world!" Musk tweeted.

Amid reports over more than half of Musk’s followers on Twitter are fake, he said, "we must clear out bots, spam & scams".

"Is something actually public opinion or just someone operating 100k fake accounts? Right now, you can’t tell. And algorithms must be open source, with any human intervention clearly identified. Then, trust will be deserved," Musk tweeted.

Musk earlier said he wanted to expand the reach of Twitter beyond the current "niche" until most Americans use the social media platform, news agency Reuters reported.

He told reporters gathered on the red carpet at the annual Met Gala in New York that an important measure of success would be whether Twitter could expand its audience significantly.

"Right now it's sort of niche. I want a much bigger percentage of the country to be on it, engaging in dialogue," said Musk, who attended the celebrity-studded event with his mother Maye Musk, a model.

Twitter has about 40 million daily active users in the United States, according to its most recent earnings report.

Musk said he wanted the platform to be "as broadly inclusive as possible, where ideally most of America is on it and talking," and as trusted as possible.

The billionaire also said he would make Twitter transparent about how tweets are promoted or demoted and wanted its software to be publicly available for critique.

  • HT News Desk
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    HT News Desk

    Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Stay updated with the latest Business News, stock market updates, petrol and diesel prices, gold and silver rates, income tax updates and major developments from India and across the world.