Edited by BellaRose Okojie
As it is with every business with a new leader(ship), Elon Musk as Twitter CEO will bring major changes to the platform. These changes will affect how users interact with the platform as well as how members of the Twitter workforce perform their duties. Already we have begun seeing some changes as end users and there are reports of how the workforce is adapting to the new administration.
In the meantime, the verification badge, one of Twitter’s most-priced subscription services is being heavily debated and our dear chief twit has taken to his Twitter account to ask users for their take on reviving Vine, a video service Twitter purchased back in 2012.
But beyond the on-app changes, what about the changes that will happen within the Twitter workforce? How will Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover affect the work culture within the company?
Will Elon Musk’s leadership style threaten the work environment at Twitter?
The world already got wind of Musk laying off certain Twitter execs following his takeover. The billionaire in a statement tried to reassure his new staff that their jobs are safe and that he has no interest in firing anyone. But can the workforce at Twitter take Elon at his word?
Most people feel that Twitter under Elon Musk’s control will achieve so much, judging from his conquest with his EV company Tesla. But it is important to note that these are two different playing fields: a manufacturing company and a social media company. For platform stability, Musk as Twitter CEO will need guidance from those familiar with the social media management ecosystem. Some of whom he may have now fired.
Over the years, we have seen various employees on Musk’s payroll complain about the work environment at Tesla. Issues from harassment to discrimination and allegations of being spied on at Tesla have made the headlines across various reputable sites. Shockingly, matters like these seem to fade into the shadows after they become public.
Also in the build up to his Twitter takeover, Musk had threatened to layoff 75% of staff. A report that said staff did not find settling and resulted in an open letter to Musk.
With Musk being tagged a Twitter troll as a result of his frequent Twitter outbursts to him physically carrying a sink to work to “let that sink in,” there are pointers to Musk being, either a boss with a sense of humor or a life sized troll. Whether this will result in the platform being unconducive for certain workers may be too soon to tell. Nonetheless, reports of the Tesla CEO giving his engineering team a 7 day deadline for the new Twitter Blue update or face unemployment may provide some context as to how he motivates employees.