Tesla CEO Elon Muskrevealed Thursday that he began a takeover bid for Twitter days after it was revealed he had turn into the firm's largest shareholder.

Whereas many Twitter customers celebrated the information, others have expressed concern that Musk would permit the platform to turn into too much like conservative social media providers like Parler, Gettr or former President Donald Trump's Fact Social.

Securities and Trade Fee filings present Musk started investing in Twitter in January. Musk, the world's richest individual, has supplied to purchase the corporate for $43 billion, in keeping with a Wednesday submitting.

"A hostile takeover by Musk will flip @Twitter into MySpace, Fact Social and Parler," one Twitter consumer wrote on Friday. "Having the cash to purchase a social media platform is not the identical as understanding how one can preserve one afloat."

Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed he's making an attempt to purchase Twitter, which has triggered concern amongst some customers of the platform. Right here, Musk is seen on the pink carpet for the Axel Springer Awards ceremony, in Berlin, on December 1, 2020.Getty

Musk's latest submitting additionally contained a letter to Twitter Chairman Bret Taylor. In it, Musk laid out his intentions of his proposal to purchase the remaining shares of Twitter's inventory for $54.20 per share.

"I invested in Twitter as I imagine in its potential to be the platform without cost speech across the globe, and I imagine free speech is a societal crucial for a functioning democracy," Musk wrote.

Musk additionally mentioned the proposal was "my finest and remaining provide." He added, "Twitter has extraordinary potential. I'll unlock it."

Max Boot, an writer/historian and columnist for The Washington Put up, expressed his skepticism that Musk would enact the beliefs he cited within the letter to Taylor.

"I'm frightened by the affect on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He appears to imagine that on social media something goes," Boot tweeted. "For democracy to outlive, we want extra content material moderation, not much less."

Boot's message set off feedback from many individuals who agreed along with his sentiment. Some invoked the identify of Parler, a social media app standard with right-leaning customers.

"If Elon Musk purchases Twitter and transforms it right into a 'Parler-like' cesspool, regular folks such as you and me will merely depart in droves, leaving the crazies to the fixed bombardment of misinformation," one author responded to Boot.

One other individual wrote: "If Elon Musk buys Twitter it is going to simply turn into Parler 2.0."

Different Twitter customers introduced up two different social media platforms which are standard amongst many conservatives: Gettr and Trump's Fact Social.

"If Elon Musk buys Twitter it is going to simply turn into one other right-wing echo chamber and lose recognition quick. Similar to Parler, GETTR, and Fact Social," one critic wrote.

Some folks merely reasoned if Musk does permit misinformation to unfold on Twitter, or reinstates Trump's account, many customers will depart for one more platform.

"The rationale Fact Social, Gab, and all these different proper wing platforms have failed is sensible folks do not wish to spend our time there," Brianna Wu, a software program engineer and entrepreneur, wrote. "If Musk buys Twitter, dismantles all the things the Belief and Security staff has completed, many people will go elsewhere. It'll actually destroy Twitter."


Nevertheless, Musk did have loads of defenders, together with those that felt he's too shrewd of a businessperson to attempt to alter Twitter into the likeness of among the different talked about platforms.

"Seems like you're anticipating Musk will remodel Twitter right into a Parler, Gettr or reality social-type platform," a Twitter consumer wrote. "If his $43B is an funding then I would not suppose these platforms provide a profitable enterprise mannequin."

Newsweek reached out to Musk and Twitter for remark.