Thread by @Serendipity265

#TwitterTakeover

Now that Elon is acquiring Twitter, there're lots of things to think about Twitter and its existence with other social media platforms especially in Indian context.

A thread ⬇️

First: What's so special about Twitter? Today, it's a melting pot of discourse-be it cultural, national or political.

Narratives start here. Memes originate here. News & Info. whether real or part of hybrid warfare begins here. Public pressure & outcry finds its mojo on Twitter.

So, the power to influence and create chaos rests with Twitter more than other social media giants despite its lower base. All the big-wigs of Indian government and industry are right here.

If we look at other social media platforms, Instagram

comes closest in shaping the Next Gen. and millenials who have moved on from Facebook. For Fb, its biggest basehold is of Gen X (40-56 yrs)- 95% of which use Fb

However, these mediums are still for social interactions and entertainment. The biggest fish in the tank WhatsApp is

restricted by its one to one communication via phone number and end to end encryption. This can be disrupted by Zuckerberg when he brings in "Communities" which is still in Testing stage.

Now, if we look at communication on Twitter, as said by #Elon, we can see a change in

a) Removal of Bots, and verification of accounts. It remains to see, how it will be done in different countries, and which ID will be used (It's simple for the US as they have one unique ID in SSN)

You may still have anonymous names but there will definitely be a human

behind the screen. It will lead to reduction in fake hashtags & singular targeting, and disruption in party's IT Cells.

If Twitter won't use a Government ID, it will not meet this objective as it needs to use Government repository.

The biggest rejoice on Twitter rn is for...

b) Lending voice to the conservatives: It's supposed that indiscriminate, permanent suspension & shadow banning of accounts leaning towards one side will reduce as the algorithm for targeting will be revamped.

However, I believe #Musk will demolish it altogether. How?...

c) Algorithm wdt Humans: Possibly, the algorithms to target people for ads & show content will remain. However, for suspension, verified users will be banned only for using abusive words, pornographic images etc

i.e. closest to objectively laid down criteria where context hardly

matters, and with no human intervention. Twitter will be more open-source & 'People will only counter other People'- Not moderators in company with political bias.

If #ElonMusk wants to live upto his word as Free Speech absolutist, he can't have those moderators.

However,

there's a catch here. Even in the biggest democracies, freedom of speech is not absolute.

Last year, Twitter agreed to comply with Indian IT Rules and law of the land in which it needs to take ownership of content if it affects a person/group & appoint a grievance officer. And,

there are matters pertaining to national security and misinformation which governments can't allow to spread. So, censorship and banning of certain accounts and content remain imp for them.

Most of it should be resolved by authentication badge and account verification. But,

it'll still be in loggerheads with govts. over free-speech issue.

Many of these changes will be when Twitter goes private and may in future come back as a publically listed firm again after these operational changes are in full force.

Business wise, #ElonMuskTwitter will definitely go into a Freemium model, which will create additional revenue for the company. Handing out blue ticks will be quite a mouth-watering option for many in India who still believe in symbolism but will be diluted in long run.

Finally,

Twitter has a potential to become the social media platform of the future now as it doesn't operate for niche audience.

Who knows, we may see different off-shoots of Twitter in future- Media, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Art & Photography, Politics, Humor and more.

Overall, good days ahead for Twitter. Let's see if users migrate from other platforms.

Even the ones having a meltdown & threatening to quit will be back to curse Elon day in and out 😌 And if the likes of #Trump are back, this meltdown will be so much fun!

#ElonMuskBuyTwitter