Fresh Air How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter
13 snips
Sep 11, 2024 
Kate Conger, a tech reporter for the New York Times and co-author of 'Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter', dives deep into the chaotic transformation of Twitter post-Musk's takeover. She discusses the dramatic layoffs and the end of moderated policies that led to a surge in hate speech. Conger also examines Musk's financial miscalculations with his new subscription model and how his evolving political views shifted the platform's dynamics. The conversation highlights the absurdities of rapid corporate change and the challenges of regulating content.
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Drastic Cuts at Twitter
- Elon Musk, after taking over Twitter, fired 75% of its staff to improve efficiency.
- This included cuts across departments, from management and engineering to security and janitorial services.
Impact on the Bottom Line
- While layoffs saved money on salaries, Twitter's income suffered due to an advertiser exodus.
- Advertisers left due to Musk's decisions and erratic posts.
Advertiser Exodus
- Advertisers left Twitter due to Musk's relaxed content moderation policies, which allowed hate speech and misinformation.
- This content was undesirable for brands to be associated with.
