Mainstream media react to Musk Twitter purchase

Billionaire Elon Musk Monday reached a deal with Twitter Inc to acquire the company in a bid to allow free speech on the platform, as reported by Frontline News. The board has agreed to sell the company at Musk’s original offer of $54.20 a share, or about $44 billion, in an all-cash deal.  

“I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means,” tweeted Musk just before the deal was announced. 

But the reactions from corporate media outlets to the announcement were less than enthusiastic, with CNN concerned that the platform will become a haven for freedom of expression. 

“If you get invited to something where there are no rules, where there is total freedom for everybody, do you actually want to go to that party or are you going to decide to stay home?” asked CNN’s Brian Stelter. 

Similarly, Washington Post columnist Max Boot had previously expressed fear that Twitter will harbor free speech, saying that a democracy requires censorship. 

“I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter,” tweeted Boot. “He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less.” 

A more puzzling reaction came from MSNBC’s Ari Melber, who expressed concern that Elon Musk might now use his power to censor his political opponents and meddle in elections, seemingly forgetting the accusations against Twitter which led to Musk’s acquisition. 

“You own all of Twitter or Facebook or what have you,” said Melber, “you don’t have to explain yourself. You don’t even have to be transparent. You could secretly ban one party’s candidate, or all of its candidates, all of its nominees, or you could secretly turn down the reach of their stuff or turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us might not even find about it until after the election.” 

During the 2020 presidential race, Twitter censored a breaking story by the New York Post about Joe Biden’s son Hunter, which revealed scandals and corruption involving the Biden family and were damaging to Biden’s presidential campaign. Twitter also banned the New York Post for several weeks without warning.  

The social media giant has also banned seven elected officials, all of whom are Republicans, including President Donald Trump. 

In addition to outright censorship, it is a known practice of Twitter’s to “shadow ban” certain users, limiting the reach of their posts if they do not conform to the company’s political agenda, or limit their followings altogether.  

Some users are already reporting a rare increase in followers since Musk’s acquisition. 

Melber went on to doubt that Musk is buying Twitter for free speech. 

“Elon Musk says this is all to help people because he is just a free speech, philosophically clear, open-minded helper,” said Melber sarcastically. 

Within minutes of the deal being announced, Variety tweeted that the New York Times and FX will be releasing an exposé documentary about Musk, designed to smear the Tesla CEO. 

“Featuring the reporting from Cade Metz and Neal Boudette of The New York Times, the film will dive into how Tesla’s Autopilot program has resulted in several deaths that Musk and the company has (sic) yet to publicly acknowledge, and details Musk’s efforts to kill government investigations into the incidents,” read the article from Variety. “Several former Tesla employees will be featured in the documentary, speaking out against Musk for the first time.”