Is Elon Musk's Tweeting Going to Topple Twitter?
Many consider Elon Musk to be one of the greatest minds of our generation, and Twitter to be the greatest social media platform of all time. Now, the two are coming together in what many are considering to be one of the greatest moments in business history. But where will these two powerhouses go from here? And why did Musk feel it necessary to buy shares in Twitter before making a public announcement about it? Will Musk’s intervention do more harm than good, and bring down the house that Jack Dorsey built? Or will his brilliant tactics provide Twitter with enough time and capital to rebound from its recent failures?
How did we get here?
In 2006, Twitter was created by a team of developers who wanted to create a short-form blogging site that could be used for socializing online. Fast forward eleven years and it is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. With 328 million active monthly users, Twitter has become an integral part of our everyday lives as we constantly check our phone screens for updates. It has been reported that Twitter earns about $100 million per year from advertising on its service, but this may not be enough if their user base starts to decline due to competition from other social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. The question remains: Will Elon Musk’s tweets topple Twitter?
The power of Twitter
Twitter is a powerful tool, and it can become even more powerful when used in conjunction with other social media platforms. While the company has had its fair share of struggles over the years, Twitter continues to grow and evolve. And while there are many who think that the most recent changes will ultimately be what topples Twitter, I think we're still too early in the game to tell. Sure, these new changes have made Twitter less appealing for people like me who post once or twice a day. However, I don't believe they've really been tested on users like me yet.
What could happen to Twitter?
In a recent tweet, Tesla CEO and entrepreneur Elon Musk said he was considering taking Tesla private. The news set off a chain reaction of events that has lead many to question the future of Twitter. This is not the first time that social media has been in jeopardy over the past few years: Facebook and Google were both accused of using user data inappropriately. With potential changes coming from the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well, it is possible that Twitter will not survive.
Twitter could see its influence decline quickly if users begin abandoning ship or if major investors start moving toward other social media outlets like Instagram and Snapchat. If Twitter continues along with business as usual, however, there may be no end in sight. Whatever happens, Twitter should be prepared for a substantial impact on its bottom line—whether positive or negative.
How do you think social media will evolve?: What do you think about Elon Musk’s statement that one day robots would be indistinguishable from humans?
Why Elon Musk's tweeting is so important
Elon Musk has a history of using Twitter as a platform for announcements, updates, and general musings. These tweets can be important- such as when he announced his desire to take Tesla private- or simply entertaining. The most recent example is an announcement that he will be sending SpaceX employees on the company’s first mission around the moon in 2023. With over 32 million followers, many people see Elon Musk’s tweets as the first word on what is happening at both Tesla and SpaceX. However, others are concerned that these messages are distracting from the work being done by Elon Musk himself. Twitter executives have previously made comments about how they would prefer if Elon Musk didn't use Twitter so much; however, it seems unlikely that anything will change anytime soon considering Elon Musk's long history with the social media site. What is unclear is whether Elon Musk's twitter presence could lead Twitter to go under or not. One thing we know for sure is that Elon Musk does not seem like the type of person who will stop tweeting.
What does the future hold for Twitter?
In light of Elon Musk's recent Twitter activity, it is worth noting that Twitter has been struggling financially for the last few years. Elon is one of the most followed people on Twitter, and his tweets about Tesla have caused a significant spike in the company's stock. But will this be enough to save Twitter from its inevitable demise? Twitter’s stock has declined by 71% since January 2017, while Elon Musk’s personal net worth has grown by $6 billion over the same period. Although Twitter appears to be getting Elon’s attention again after his 5-day break from tweeting, I believe it is too late for Twitter. There are many social media platforms that people use now and Twitter doesn't stand out as much anymore. Elon's fame combined with Twitter might bring them back into the spotlight but they need something more than just Elon Musk to do so.
.png)
