Since buying the social media platform Twitter in October, Elon Musk has been slowly changing the way the space operates. In his latest move, Musk put out a public poll asking whether he should step down as head of Twitter. Is it any surprise that 57.5% said yes?
Prior to this poll, Musk assured followers and avid Tweeters that “going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes” after a large outcry that Musk was asserting his power a little too strongly. After a wave of banning accounts, specifically of journalists, the CEO took a step back and turned the focus to himself.
The Tweet had 17,502, 391 votes, has been liked by over 600,000 people, and shared nearly 450,000 times. This man knows how to cause a storm.
The poll is a clear and definitive yes, the public wants Musk to step down as CEO. For a while, after the poll ended we were all on tenterhooks to see what would happen next. Surely, as he had stated, he would “abide by the results” of the poll.
It was 3 days before Musk addressed the poll, I guess it takes some time to come to terms with that fact you’re disliked. In a short yet confusing Tweet he gave this update:
Only time will tell whether Musk really does resign as CEO. The one obvious issue and question on everyone’s mind is who would take over as this figurehead? After all, it is really a figurehead position. If Musk did remove himself, he would effectively still be CEO just in everything but name. But, then again, perhaps that doesn’t bother the public, and instead it’s his mere presence on Twitter that is the problem.
Elon Musk’s Odd Relationship With Twitter
Musk has nearly 130 million followers on Twitter and is best known for his business ventures in Tesla and PayPal. It’s safe to say that buying Twitter was quite an odd business move. Known for its fluctuation in profit, it’s hard to see what propelled Musk to buy the platform. Maybe it wasn’t a business move at all. Maybe he just wanted to do something different! Seems a bit out of character.
Giving him full control of the space, at least on the exterior, Musk often likes to tease his followers, especially relating to the inner workings of Twitter.
Equally, Musk often interacts with his followers. Here, Musk alludes to the fact that only verified accounts should vote in the polls. That’s quite a statement to make but once again it is unclear whether he just has a wacky sense of humor or is being serious. Then again, for 48 hours, Twitter users had the chance to buy their own blue tick! It kind of defeats the point if you ask me.
If there is one thing that the poll has done, it’s got the public talking. Something tells me that this isn’t the last controversial/conversation-provoking Tweet that Musk will put out.
