Elon Musk Giving 'Serious Thought' To Creating New Social Media Platform

Elon Musk’s tweet comes a day after he put out a Twitter poll asking the users if they believed the microblogging platform adheres to the principle of free speech

Elon Musk Giving 'Serious Thought' To Creating New Social Media Platform (File Image)

New Delhi: Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk in a tweet on Saturday said that he is ‘giving serious thought’ to building a new social media platform.

Responding to a question of a Twitter user on whether he would consider creating a social media platform that would consist of an open source algorithm and one that would prioritize free speech, and where propaganda was minimal, Musk said “Am giving serious thought to this’.

“Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy,” Musk tweeted in the weekend.

Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.

What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022

Notably, Elon Musk’s tweet comes a day after he put out a Twitter poll asking the users if they believed the microblogging platform adheres to the principle of free speech, to which over 70% of the users voted "no".

"The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully," Musk said on Friday.

Earlier on March 25, he had said in a tweet that “free speech is essential to a functioning democracy,” and questioned if Twitter “rigorously adheres to this principle.”

It is to be noted if Musk decides to go ahead with creating a new platform, he would be joining a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and which would hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on platforms.