3 ways Elon Musk hopes to change Twitter

Now that Twitter has accepted Elon Musk’s unsolicited bid to buy the social media giant for $44 billion, speculation is growing over what changes Musk will make to the platform. Here are three things Musk has alluded to through various interviews, statements and tweets.

#1: Defeat the spam bots

If our twitter bid succeeds, we will defeat the spam bots or die trying!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 21, 2022

This one seems like a universally good idea, if not mission impossible. A “spam bot” is a computer program that spreads spam across the internet, inundating Twitter and other social media platforms. Musk has previously said part of his strategy will include authenticating all real humans on Twitter. The company may need to beef up its Twitter Verified staff for this one.

#2: Open source the algorithm

“One of the things that I believe Twitter should do is open source the algorithm and make any changes to people’s tweets, if they’re emphasized or deemphasized, that action should be made apparent so that anyone can see that action’s been taken,” Musk said during a TED event earlier this month. “So there’s no sort of behind-the-scenes manipulation, either algorithmically or manually.”

An open source algorithm would also show why certain tweets are appearing on a user’s timeline. Musk has said he believes making the algorithm open source will increase trust. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey appeared to endorse the idea in this quote tweet.

The choice of which algorithm to use (or not) should be open to everyone https://t.co/o2DkSTWW0O

— jack (@jack) March 25, 2022

#3: Add an edit button

Musk is vowing to “make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features.” An edit button has been high on his list. He polled his 83 million followers on the desire for an edit button after taking a major stake in the company and 74% voted yes.

But his interest in an edit button goes back years. Three years before making a bid for Twitter, he asked, “Where’s the edit function when you really need it!?”

The replies to the tweet were foretelling.

Three years ago, Elon Musk complained about Twitter lacking an edit function. The responses are…foretelling. pic.twitter.com/d4bte6qcMl

— Simone Del Rosario (@SimoneReports) April 25, 2022