Tesla CEO and Founder Elon Musk’s recent offer to buy social media giant Twitter for $43 billion has made the chattering classes lose their minds. Most of the mainstream commentariat has shrieked at Musk’s offer. Such concerns are lacking in self-awareness due to how most of these commentators had no problem with Jeff Bezos buying the Washington Post in 2013.
For many conservatives and members of the broader right-winger movement who are concerned with free speech on social media, a prospective purchase of Twitter by Musk could be the best chance for free speech to be restored on the platform. However, some conservative figures like Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie have more measured takes on the prospects of a Musk-owned Twitter.
While Massie’s tweet may have been in jest, Musk’s ownership of Twitter could potentially introduce some much needed new blood in the social media sphere.
That said, there are huge obstacles with regards to changing the overall culture of tech giants like Twitter. These companies have turned into massive bureaucracies. It’s not just the executives who push anti free speech policies but also middle managers and employees who make sure to “wokify” the company irrespective of whether the chief executives do so or not. Just like how the presidency in the US government has become largely symbolic, many leadership positions in companies have also been stripped of their power as HR departments gain more influence in decision-making.
Plus, Musk himself has eccentric views on a host of issues such as the promotion of electric cars to the use of neural implants to connect the human mind directly to devices. One has to wonder if Musk’s flirtation with buying Twitter is just a vanity project when one considers his overall body of work.
Who knows. One thing is certain: The Right needs elites to defect, or at least a new elite to rise in order for it to realize its political vision.
