A year ago this month, Elon Musk turned to his favourite social media site with a question. "Is Twitter dying?" he asked. On the anniversary of his takeover bid, he may have his answer.
Twitter has been dramatically transformed under Musk, and few - even among those in the billionaire's corner - say the changes have been for the better. In recent weeks, government agencies, news organisations and powerful social media influencers have questioned the usefulness of the platform, with some major players publicly abandoning their accounts or telling users they can't rely on the site for urgent information.
Advertisers have fled in droves over Musk's policy changes and erratic behaviour on the platform, causing advertising revenue to drop in recent months by as much as 75 per cent, according to a person familiar with the matter who agreed, on condition of anonymity, to share sensitive internal information.
Rounds of lay-offs have left Twitter operating with a skeleton staff of 1,500-an 80 per cent reduction - and so riddled with bugs and glitches that the site can go down for hours at a time.
Meanwhile, the value of the company has cratered, Musk has admitted, to less than half of the $44bn he paid six months ago.
"I'd say the pain level of Twitter has been extremely high," Musk said in an interview last week with the BBC, assessing his first half-year in charge. "It's been really quite a stressful situation." But he added that advertisers were returning, and that he anticipates a roughly “break even" financial picture, stating: "Overall, I think the trend is very good."
Even some of his fans see things quite differently. Musk has garnered a reputation as a supposedly brilliant businessman with the Midas touch, but his erratic decision-making at Twitter has taken off some of the sheen.
この記事は The Independent の April 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Independent の April 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
No title until Reds become road warriors, warns Slot
Liverpool boss says team must match away form of rivals
United stuck in 'purgatory' and facing only one way out
When one prominent football figure caught a glimpse of the Manchester United dressing room recently, they immediately recognised a scene they had seen from rival clubs. That was a squad that \"doesn't know what next\" and feels like it's \"going nowhere\". It isn't intentional, of course, but is a feeling that starts to grip a group when there's no sense of clarity.
Fifa transfer rules 'contrary to EU law', Diarra case finds
Fifa will have to update key paragraphs of its transfer rules to ensure punishment of players for breaking contracts is less draconian, after a European Court of Justice ruling on the Lassana Diarra case.
Marital rape is not rape, argues Indian government
The Indian government has opposed calls to classify consensual sexual acts committed by a husband against his wife as \"rape\", saying that to do so could have an impact on conjugal relationships and disturb the institution of marriage.
Screaming statue tribute to doctor raped and killed in India causes controversy
A bust installed outside a state-run hospital in India where a resident doctor was raped and killed has sparked anger and shock as it depicts a woman screaming in agony, her head thrown back and eyes wide open.
Haitian gang shoots at least 70 people in town rampage
Gang members brandishing automatic rifles have stormed through a town in Haiti's main breadbasket region, killing at least 70 people and forcing another 3,000 to flee.
Beirut hit again by Israel as Iran vows not to back down
Israeli military claims strikes targeted new Hezbollah leaders
Police officers win appeal in athlete stop and search case
Two former Metropolitan Police officers have been handed their jobs back after winning an appeal against a ruling that they had lied about a stop and search incident involving British athlete Bianca Williams.
Royal Navy chief apologises for submarine service abuse
The head of the Royal Navy has apologised after an investigation found \"misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours\" in the submarine service.
Women say gender equality in the workplace has stalled
Gender equality in the workplace has stalled as women report experiencing many of the same challenges as they did nearly 30 years ago, a new survey of high-flyers suggests.