Connect with us

SOCIAL

What to Make of Elon Musk’s Buy-Up of Twitter Shares

Published

on

What to Make of Elon Musk's Buy-Up of Twitter Shares

We are certainly living in interesting times.

After recently criticizing the management of Twitter, and in particular, the platform’s move away from free and open speech in the app, billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk has today purchased 73.5 million shares in the company, worth close to $3 billion, immediately making him the largest Twitter shareholder.

Musk now owns 9.2% of the company, and while his stake is ‘passive’ – i.e. Musk does not gain a board seat or voting rights – speculation now is that Musk could look to make a bigger move, and take more active control of the company in the near future.

What would that mean?

As noted, Musk has recently taken to Twitter to criticize the company’s moves to restrict free speech. Late last month, Musk shared this poll with his 80 million Twitter followers.

Advertisement

Musk also noted that ‘the consequences of this poll will be important’, without qualifying those remarks.

Following on from this, Musk questioned the role that Twitter is now playing in democracy, and raised the possibility of creating his own social network.

Musk has had a complicated relationship with Twitter over time, with the billionaire’s off-the-cuff tweets often landing him in hot water with the SEC and other regulatory authorities. Musk also has a history of sharing seemingly random memes and thoughts, which given his public status, has lead to confusion, and even concern at times for his mental state.

Case in point – Musk recently challenged Vladimir Putin to a physical fight for the fate of Ukraine.

Advertisement

Musk has also been a vocal critic of various government policies, including immigration reforms, COVID response measures and taxation proposals. And given his statements on Twitter’s moves to restrict certain speech, it’s possible that Musk would like to go further in such comments.

But would easing Twitter’s regulations be a good thing? Would it be more beneficial for society, as Musk stipulates, if Twitter were to allow more misinformation, and take a step back from looking to curb concerning movements and trends?

Twitter’s most notable action on this front came when it banned former US President Donald Trump from its platform for sharing comments that could incite violence.

Musk had thoughts on this as well:

Advertisement

So clearly, Musk has opinions on the way that perceived tech censorship is going – but surely a $3 billion investment is about more than simply enacting your own will on your favorite social media platform, and letting more controversial content filter through. Right?

Of course, $3 billion for Elon Musk is not a significant portion of his net worth, but even so, from a business perspective, you would assume that Musk has some angle here, a potential pathway to re-igniting Twitter’s growth and maximizing that investment.    

Twitter’s already under pressure on this front after investors from Elliott Management Group bought up Twitter shares in 2020 in order to force Twitter management to up its game, and improve revenue performance at the company. That likely led to Jack Dorsey’s decision to step down late last year, while Twitter is also still being held to its ambitious revenue and user growth targets implemented as part of the Elliott push.

Maybe, Musk sees potential beyond this, and a means to help stimulate Twitter growth even further, and make it an even more significant part of the media landscape.

Many have envisioned the same, with Twitter, at least to some, failing to capitalize on its opportunities – while by comparison, Meta has continued to grow and expand well beyond Twitter’s pace.

Twitter and Facebook were once on similar pace. Maybe there’s a way to bring that back into view, and build Twitter into something even bigger, and more influential, within our broader communicative process.

Advertisement

Or maybe Musk will simply look to boost Twitter’s share price through his involvement and interest, before selling out for a profit. Twitter shares rose more than 28% after Musk’s stake was revealed, and maybe that’s the end game here, another troll from Musk to make even more money.

That seems less likely, but with Elon Musk, no one really knows for sure.

But what do know is that things are set to become a lot more interesting in Twitter’s board room over the coming months. Watch this space.




Source link

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address

SOCIAL

Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

Published

on

By

Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

Advertisement

This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Continue Reading

SOCIAL

Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

Published

on

Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

Advertisement



“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

Source link

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Continue Reading

SOCIAL

Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Published

on

Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

Advertisement



Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

Source link

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Continue Reading

Trending

Follow by Email
RSS