Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

[deleted] t1_iuvkr74 wrote

Reply to comment by LincHayes in Why a Blue check mark is now $8 on Twitter and Elon Musk's Next Steps - A piece of speculative business non-fiction by BandicootKind705

[deleted]

0

LincHayes t1_iuvmc3t wrote

I agree that the internet should be a free place...as in access to the internet should be made freely available to everyone. However, Twitter is not the internet. It's not a utility, or public trust. It's a website. A privately owned website.

So, I agree, making Twitter a paid service doesn't mean others can't use the internet, any more than charging for the Wall Street Journal stifles other people's speech.

But it certainly puts Elon in a position of embracing his own hypocrisy. He cannot do both..make Twitter free and open for everyone and everything with limited moderation, and also make a profit.

Reddit figured that a few years ago, and they have transitioned nicely.

Edited: More to add.

5

OriginalCompetitive t1_iuw1cid wrote

“Free” speech doesn’t mean “no money”-free, it just means not restricted by content or viewpoint.

1

Torrall t1_iuw7s47 wrote

"like Twitter where public consensus is being measured and created"

​

Less than a quarter of Americans check twitter. It does not create public consensus

2

[deleted] t1_iuw9emd wrote

[deleted]

1

Torrall t1_iuwa14t wrote

Just because journalists talk there doesnt mean it has the power you think it does.

2

BandicootKind705 OP t1_iuwk7dr wrote

I think you're right. It's not very important to use twitter for a big majority. Doesn't impact day to day. But it's still massive among people in power, and it does have a good sizeable base of real people too. Technically Twitter could be used by people to create pressure campaigns on policy and real political power around important issues like health care and the wealth gap and wars. But that'll never happen. It will only create buzz and fights around hot button issues and never impact people in a real positive way for them to join.

1