After months of speculation, setbacks and potential lawsuits, Elon Musk’s buyout of Twitter is back on track.
Returning to the original asking price, it seems the Tesla boss is set to step up as CEO of the social media platform in the coming weeks.
For years now, Elon has been suggesting ways the platform could change and ‘improve’, and it seems he is dead-set on making those alterations a reality.
The SpaceX boss has even talked about it becoming an "everything app", one that would involve payments and relaxed moderation.
Moving forward, whatever happens to Twitter, it won’t be the same social media service we know it as today.
How will Twitter change under Elon Musk?
Less moderation
Musk has long been an advocate for freedom of speech and he wants Twitter to uphold the same standard.
He has previously called it a “digital town square,” saying this is the platform where society debates key issues that reflect the wider world.
He tweeted back in April: “Twitter is the digital town square, where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated."
"My preference is to hew close to the laws of countries in which Twitter operates. If the citizens want something banned, then pass a law to do so, otherwise it should be allowed,” he later added in May.
Under current guidelines, Twitter limits speech including hate speech, targeted harassment and media featuring graphic violence.
It isn’t clear how this will change, but it seems Elon wants to level the playing field when it comes to the public voicing their opinions.
The new ‘X’ app
Elon’s plans go far beyond simply updating moderation rules, as he is on a mission to create an “everything app”.
He tweeted on October 4: “Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.”
It seems that WeChat is the template for his ambitions, a service that is fundamental in China, and its function goes far beyond a mere social media platform.
Not only is WeChat a service for instant messaging and media sharing but it is also a tool to make purchases, pay friends and book reservations.
It has become essential to everyday life in China, and Elon openly talked about how he wanted to replicate it for the USA and the West in general.
During a Q&A with Twitter in June, Elon said: “There’s no WeChat equivalent outside of China.
“You basically live on WeChat in China. If we can recreate that with Twitter, we’ll be a great success.”
Other apps such as WhatsApp and Snapchat are trying to replicate the success of WeChat beyond the borders of China, but so far none have succeeded.
It comes after Musk was forced to deny reports that he'd spoken directly to Russian dictator Putin shortly before tweeting his widely mocked suggestion to end the war in Ukraine.
The billionaire had told followers of his proposal to have Crimea be formally recognised as Russian, and for the UN to supervise referendum votes in Ukraine's Russian-occupied lands.
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