The Intelligence from The Economist Musketeers heading for the exits: chaos at Twitter
Nov 17, 2022
Tom Wainwright, Technology and Media Editor at The Economist, discusses Elon Musk's chaotic leadership at Twitter, focusing on the pressure on staff amid declining ad revenue. Ana Lankes, Latin America correspondent, analyzes Nicaragua’s chilling authoritarian regime under Daniel Ortega and the repression it entails. Lastly, Obituaries Editor Anne Rowe reflects on the deep friendship between Hannah Pick Goslar and Anne Frank, recalling their shared experiences during the war.
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Verification Chaos
- Elon Musk's verification change on Twitter allowed anyone to pay for a blue checkmark.
- This led to impersonations, like a fake Nintendo account tweeting an obscene image and a fake Eli Lilly account announcing free insulin.
Impact on Advertisers
- The impersonation incidents on Twitter are disastrous for advertising.
- Advertisers, protective of their brands, paused spending after witnessing the chaos.
Internal Chaos
- Musk's abrupt changes at Twitter, including mass layoffs and ending remote work, caused disruption.
- He even asked some fired employees to return due to project issues and bugs.