Will Twitter under Elon Musk be the ‘proverbial Wild West’? Users may have to fight bullying and misinformation on their own

Tesla founder has struck a deal to buy Twitter, and his vow to let everyone say whatever they want on the platform has analysts and activists concerned

Musk’s promised hands-off approach could put the onus on users to combat bullying, the experts say, and give him the ultimate power to do whatever he likes

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Twitter has accepted a bid from Tesla chief Elon Musk (pictured) to acquire the social media giant. Experts say the platform could, under Musk’s reign, become a digital “Wild West”. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 4:15pm, 26 Apr 2022

Elon Musk’s vow to let everyone say whatever they want on Twitter after his takeover of the social media giant could put the onus on users to combat bullying and misinformation on the platform, experts say.

Details of Musk’s plans for Twitter were slim after his deal to buy the tech firm was announced on April 25, but the Tesla chief portrays himself as a free-speech absolutist.

The privatisation of Twitter with Musk as its master has raised concerns from analysts and activists that the site will be ruled capriciously by the world’s richest man, with more focus on attention and profit than on promoting healthy online conversations, which has been a priority at the service.

For Kyla Garrett Wagner, assistant professor of communications law at Syracuse University in the US state of New York, Musk’s takeover is not a victory for free-speech rights.

Musk at an event in California in 2015. His deal to buy the tech firm was announced on April 25. Photo: Reuters

“What we have done is put even more power into fewer hands,” she says. “If Elon Musk decides tomorrow that he wants to shut Twitter down for a week, he can do that.”

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