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Musk Discusses His Views on Content Moderation as Twitter Deal Inches Closer to Completion

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Musk Discusses His Views on Content Moderation as Twitter Deal Inches Closer to Completion

So what’s the latest on Elon’s great Twitter shake-up?

While we’re still waiting for Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover bid to be finalized, Musk has been slowly doling out more details of his Twitter reinvigoration plan, which he believes will see the app grow its user count by 200% over the next three years, and bring in 5x more revenue by 2028.

Which seems ridiculously optimistic by any measure – but given Musk’s track record with his other companies, no one’s dismissing his plans outright, as maybe he sees something we don’t, and there is actually a pathway to making Twitter a more essential element of people’s everyday lives.

Though from what Elon’s outlining thus far, that pathway’s not exactly clear just yet.

Today, in an interview at the Financial Times’ ‘Future of the Car’ conference, Musk provided some new notes on his Twitter plans, including:

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  • Musk feels that Twitter has a strong left bias because it’s based in San Francisco. Musk’s view is that many Twitter employees would not even realise this bias due to where they’re located
  • Musk reiterated his plans to open-source Twitter’s feed algorithm, saying that, if he can, he would ‘literally put the Twitter algorithm on GitHub and say like, ‘Hey, anyone want to suggest changes to this? Please go ahead
  • Musk indicated that, based on the evidence that he’s seen, he would likely restore former President Donald Trump’s banned account, as permanent bans, in his view, are not effective in the vast majority of cases

The last point is what most are latching onto – ever since the Tesla owner announced his plans to buy Twitter, right-wing pundits have been trumpeting the deal as a win for free speech, and a restoration of their capability to say what they want on the social media platform, free from perceived bias and enforcement aligned with political perspective.

Twitter itself has been working for years to establish a fair and reasonable process for the enforcement of its rules, but in Musk’s view, the banning of Trump was an over-reach, which Musk says, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey agrees with.

In response, Dorsey explained his perspective on the Trump ban:

As you can see, Dorsey had reservations about the decision at the time, and Musk’s view aligns with these concerns. Whether it was the right move or not, the decision to ban Trump has become a ‘line in the sand’ moment, and it will likely be a major point of contention in marking the Elon Musk era at the app, if indeed Musk does move to undo Trump’s ban once he takes ownership of the company (which is still to be confirmed).

Though Trump says that he’s not coming back anyway. The former President is apparently dedicated to building his own social network, Truth Social, which, if it’s successful, could end up making him a lot of money, while also allowing any type of speech that it chooses.

But it’s also hard to imagine that Trump is overly happy speaking to a much smaller audience. Here’s a visual representation of the engagement on Truth Social as it stands right now.

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Trump had close to 90 million followers on Twitter when his account was banned, which gave him a huge platform to spread his political messages, while virtually every one of his tweets sparked a new news cycle of its own.  

If Musk does reverse Trump’s ban, despite his comments to the contrary, I’m tipping that Trump will be back, which will kick off a new season of ‘Will They Ban Him?’, as he resumes his late night practice of poking his various enemies and critics via his short missives.

The Trump issue aside, Musk’s expanded comments on content moderation in today’s interview do seem a little concerning, in that outside of these larger, more high profile cases, there does seem to be a level of naivety to his understanding of adequate platform moderation.

As per Musk:

“If [Twitter users] say something that is illegal or otherwise just destructive to the world, then there should be perhaps a timeout, a temporary suspension, or that particular tweet should be made invisible or have very limited traction. I think if there are tweets that are wrong and bad, those should be either deleted or made invisible, and a suspension, a temporary suspension is appropriate but not a permanent ban.”

‘Wrong and bad’ is pretty vague, and while I’m sure that Musk has a stronger grasp on the real issues at play than what this statement would suggest, it does seem that he has a way to go in fully understanding the potential harms and dangers of allowing certain types of speech to be amplified via social networks.

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In any event, Musk does advocate a form of moderation here, in policing the most harmful types of content. Musk has previously noted that he will align with the laws of each region, in determining what will and won’t be allowed in the app, while he also recently met with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Markets to discuss the EU plans for content moderation.

So Musk, according to his statements thus far, will look to ensure that Twitter adheres to evolving content laws, in all regions. Which makes sense, and seems like a more ‘hands off’ approach to such issues. But ultimately, that could see Musk’s free speech stance diluted, at least in the eyes of the more extreme elements who are welcoming the Musk era with open arms.

The Trump issue also clouds a bigger question around the potential for tweet censorship under Musk’s leadership – how will the platform deal with requests from the Chinese Government to remove content.

Musk’s main earner, Tesla, is reliant on Chinese manufacturing, with the vast majority of Tesla components manufactured in China. Indeed, Tesla sold more than 70k China-made vehicles in December alone, its highest monthly rate since it started manufacturing in Shanghai in 2019, while almost half of the total 936k cars that the company shipped last year were manufactured in the region.

Tesla itself may be US owned, but China is crucial to its development and growth, and with Twitter currently banned in China, and regularly the focus of pro-CCP propaganda campaigns, it’ll be interesting to see how Musk manages this element as he looks to implement his free speech approach.

As noted, more recently, Musk clarified this stance, noting that Twitter will be beholden to the laws of each region.

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But those guidelines could still prove problematic, because China, India and more recently Russia have sought to quell anti-government sentiment by restricting what’s shared online.

From one perspective, you could say that China’s efforts to block certain topics is aligned with the laws of that region. Does that mean that the CCP should be allowed to simply erase such mentions from an entire platform if it chooses – no matter what, exactly those topics may be? Should Russian be able to call on Twitter to delete mentions of its invasion of Ukraine?

And within this, where does ‘freedom of speech’ begin and end?

And all of this aside, none of Musk’s views on free speech will help the platform stimulate user growth.

How will Twitter triple its user base in three years? Most people that can access Twitter are already well aware of what the platform is and how it works, and they’re either using it or they’re not.

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How will Musk convince those who’ve shown no interest in the past to sign up?

There’s still a way to go in understanding the next phase of Musk’s plan, and many elements that need to be considered, in all aspects, before we get some perspective on what, exactly, Twitter will become in its next stage.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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“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.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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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.

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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.

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