Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey may have stepped down as CEO last year and left the board of directors in May, but he hasn’t been able to keep himself from criticizing the decision-making of new owner Elon Musk, leading only to more “apologies” and a billionaire spat over “Angry Birds” all while a crackdown on impersonators ensued.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has had no shortage of detractors and critiques as he embarked on his mission to make the public square a trusted source for information and open debate. While many had to take to complaining about content that was appearing across the platform, leading Musk to remind that no new moderation policies had been implemented, Dorsey called out supposed additions in code meant to track the origins of tweets better.
Dorsey wrote Sunday “these tracking additions when sharing a tweet are a step backwards,” before adding “nothing needed after the ?”
these tracking additions when sharing a tweet are a step backwards
nothing needed after the ? pic.twitter.com/v7eCFaAT99
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2022
The remark showed the former CEO to be looking for faults in the new leadership as it wasn’t long before users pointed out Musk was not behind the subtle tracking feature.
“Been like this for months. Not a new addition,” one person replied, leading Dorsey to seek forgiveness yet again over the weekend as he replied, “Apologies.”
In fact, an individual had pointed out the tracking as early as July in a thread that began “Twitter is now tracking EXACTLY what tweets you share… And WHO reads them.”
Twitter is now tracking EXACTLY what tweets you share…
And WHO reads them.
>> A quick assessment from someone who pays attention.
(plz RT this topper b/c I'm sure this thread will be r3pressed)
1/n
— joshua steinman (🇺🇸,🇺🇸) (@JoshuaSteinman) July 9, 2022
As covered by American Wire, Dorsey had previously sought forgiveness on Saturday following the mass layoffs at the company as he took responsibility for the rapid growth there.
“I own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation,” he tweeted in part, “I grew the company size too quickly. I apologize for that.”
While Dorsey had also fully endorsed Musk as “the singular solution” he trusts on a “mission to extend the light of consciousness” when the entrepreneur had made his offer to purchase Twitter, that backing seemed to have gone by the wayside as the two engaged in a public dispute over fact-checking.
“Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world,” Musk posted Sunday. “That’s our mission.”
To that, Dorsey asked, “accurate to who?”
accurate to who?
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2022
Whether altruistic or overly simplified, the “Chief Twit” answered, “As judged by the people of Twitter via Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch).”
That post itself was given the Notes treatment with added context that said, “The stated goal of Birdwatch is ‘to add helpful context to Tweets.’ It is not to adjudicate facts or to be a universal source of information.”
However, Dorsey didn’t seem prepared to drop the matter and persisted, “I still think…Birdwatch is a far better name … And ‘more informative’ a far better goal.”
I still think…Birdwatch is a far better name
And “more informative” a far better goal
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2022
The back and forth continued with Musk asserting “Birdwatch gives me the creeps” earning a counterpunch from Dorsey, “Community notes is the most boring Facebook name ever.”
“Not everything needs to have ‘bird in the name!” the new CEO declared. “Too many bird groups fighting each internally other at Twitter. Angry Birds.”
On that point the co-founder could agree, but, he added, “that wasn’t reason for the name. Descriptive is always better, but don’t think ‘community’ or ‘notes’ is the right descriptor.”
Community notes is the most boring Facebook name ever
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2022
Agree, but that wasn’t reason for the name. Descriptive is always better, but don’t think “community” or “notes” is the right descriptor
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2022
Meanwhile, leftist blue-checks seemingly enraged by having to pay $8 to maintain their verification, which had long been a symbol of their elite status on the platform, embarked on a crusade of impersonation in an effort to embarrass Musk and prove his new readily cleared benchmark faulty.
Most noted among them was comedian Kathy Griffin who changed her name to “Elon Musk” and her profile pic to match his current image and tweeted, “After much spirited discussion with the females in my life, I’ve decided that voting blue for their choice is only right. (They’re also sexy females, btw.) #VoteBlueToProtectWomen”
Others attempted the same with more vile remarks, but the owner was having none of it and the accounts, including Griffin’s, were suspended as Musk announced, “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended”
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
As word of the suspension began to circulate, Musk offered a shot at Griffin’s attempt to belittle his fledgling effort to improve Twitter by writing, “Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian.”
Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
And for those concerned that the “free speech absolutist” was being hypocritical, the billionaire made clear, “But if she really wants her account back, she can have it…For $8.”
For $8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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