Legitimately curious because I’m OOTL: why would Saudi Arabia want to destroy Twitter? My (admittedly uninformed) instinct says it would be a waste of their large investment and control over a platform ripe with potential for them to control narratives over their shitty PR for human rights abuses and other shit. Would it just be to prevent negative coverage of their actions from spreading?
Again, not arguing, just legitimately curious. I figured Twitter’s downfall would be really bad for them since they have sway over Musk and a vested interest in the platform.
“Kingdom Holding Company and the private office of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal will maintain their stake in Twitter after Musk took control of the social media company.”
Twitter was unparalleled in the reach it had. It has been used to organize protests, riots and overthrow governments. There still isn’t a viable alternative that can reach 80%+ of a population.
Twitter was also used frequently to expose poor working conditions and other abuses of power, especially in middle eastern countries
Twitter was the only mainstream social media that seemed to have any semblance of ethics.
Musk is also a wild card, and adding to the instability of Western society is advantageous. It’s another direction we get pulled, another thing to be upset about, another distraction.
Exactly what I was implying. If destroying the platform wasn’t the point, then they’d want to know why they’re not seeing a return on their investment. The public story is that it was an investment.
I’m addicted to drama and elon provides plenty of that. I haven’t had a Twitter account in about 10 years and I only used it as a teenager to look for porn.
I suspect it’s doing exactly what they want it to do. The platform isn’t destroyed, only it’s ability to make money through conventional advertising. It’s still full of strongly conservative viewers running businesses with plenty of cash. It’s primed to be a disinformation delivery system.
Right now if he was able to liquidate holdings, he could pay them back in full and still be #2 richest and still be above Bezos by 43 billion
Huh. I wonder why Saudi Arabia isn’t demanding their $22B back.
Because they didn’t do it as an investment. Destroying the platform was the point.
Legitimately curious because I’m OOTL: why would Saudi Arabia want to destroy Twitter? My (admittedly uninformed) instinct says it would be a waste of their large investment and control over a platform ripe with potential for them to control narratives over their shitty PR for human rights abuses and other shit. Would it just be to prevent negative coverage of their actions from spreading?
Again, not arguing, just legitimately curious. I figured Twitter’s downfall would be really bad for them since they have sway over Musk and a vested interest in the platform.
Removed by mod
Hold up, what does SA have to do with musk buying Twitter? Did they actually pay him?
Twitter was unparalleled in the reach it had. It has been used to organize protests, riots and overthrow governments. There still isn’t a viable alternative that can reach 80%+ of a population.
Twitter was also used frequently to expose poor working conditions and other abuses of power, especially in middle eastern countries
But that’s not Tru Freedums! Tru Freedums is being able to say the n-word and be respected for it!
Twitter was the only mainstream social media that seemed to have any semblance of ethics.
Musk is also a wild card, and adding to the instability of Western society is advantageous. It’s another direction we get pulled, another thing to be upset about, another distraction.
Exactly what I was implying. If destroying the platform wasn’t the point, then they’d want to know why they’re not seeing a return on their investment. The public story is that it was an investment.
I guess they failed. Twitter is still just as massive as it was before.
Take a look at how many posts on lemmy and even mastodon are just screencaps of tweets.
Ya’ll are addicted to that shit, lol.
Yeah, but now they can be sure that anyone arranging an Arab spring in the kingdom of Saud will be banned within the hour.
Why? Does twitter ban users if the Saudi government demands it?
That’s the implication, you know because of the investment.
Is there evidence of it happening?
Xitter has been banning journalists on request of the Indian government.
So would probably do the same for Saudi’s.
I’m addicted to drama and elon provides plenty of that. I haven’t had a Twitter account in about 10 years and I only used it as a teenager to look for porn.
Have you seen thunderf00t’s anthology on Musk?
I suspect it’s doing exactly what they want it to do. The platform isn’t destroyed, only it’s ability to make money through conventional advertising. It’s still full of strongly conservative viewers running businesses with plenty of cash. It’s primed to be a disinformation delivery system.
Right now if he was able to liquidate holdings, he could pay them back in full and still be #2 richest and still be above Bezos by 43 billion
They’ll get some of it back when they sell his kidneys