Experts point out that when Elon Musk used his luck to dominate a hugely influential platform like Twitter, he got directly involved in today’s global political debate.
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Billionaire Elon Musk (archive)
Initially, Elon Musk revolutionized the auto industry before breaking into the world of space travel, but the eccentric billionaire is now in possession of … Twitter platform It has an unprecedented level of influence.
Experts have pointed out that, using his luck to dominate such an influential platform, he has immersed himself in today’s global political debate.
Jeffrey Winters, a specialist in elites and oligarchs at Northwestern University, told AFP that he no longer expresses his views only through a medium, but now owns it and sets the policies that determine how it is used.
The question that arises is what will he do with this power, starting with the question in everyone’s mind: Musk will allow Former US President Donald Trump Back on Twitter or not?
Winters added that Musk, who now controls decisions within Twitter, “will change the mix of political voices whose views are expressed on Twitter.”
According to the professor, Musk represents an oligarch whose wealth gives him social and political power not available to the common citizen, even if he controls neither governments nor armies.
Read also: Elon Musk announces the formation of a council to oversee Twitter content
clairvoyant
In the business world, Musk’s openness and goodwill as an innovator is well established.
In the words of Nicholas Colas, co-founder of the Data Trek Research Center, “it goes in directions that people never intended and creates entirely new products that have proven effective and successful.”
Colas explained that Musk did not invent the electric car, but that he and Tesla proved that the production of “large-scale” electric cars is possible.
He added that with “SpaceX”, he introduced the space Internet catcher and reusable rockets, technologies that remained promised until “he stepped in.”
For Colas, Musk can be compared to prolific inventors like Thomas Edison or Steve Jobs.
At least it has shown that it can make money: Tesla is the most valuable stock market and SpaceX is worth more than $ 125 billion.
So when the richest man in the world expresses his opinion on a business matter, such as a company or a cryptocurrency, his fans listen to him like a fortune teller, so that he can rock the financial markets with a few words.
And in 2021, when Musk simply changed his Twitter bio to “Bitcoin,” the price of the virtual currency jumped 20%.
And Musk could have contented himself with his role as a businessman and reduced his appearance, and that’s what most of the wealthy do who fund political campaigns and lobbies at a distance to convey their interests for fear of reactions to their own. wealth, but he followed the opposite trend.
“Elon Musk is not afraid of being rich and being in the spotlight,” said Winters.
Red line
Mark Haas, a communications and marketing specialist at Arizona State University, said, “The creation of Tesla as an iconic brand has drawn people’s attention to him and his immense wealth.”
“So he was willing to constantly comment on social media on issues that other CEOs don’t publicly address the way he does,” he said.
“He’s not afraid to express his opinion, no matter who is insulting him, or which regulator he is angry with,” Haas added.
Winters pointed out that Musk used Twitter to propose a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow, as he might have thought that what he was doing was “just giving an opinion like everyone else”.
“When you check the satellites that are vital for Ukrainians to communicate, your opinion has huge multiplier effects,” he explained.
But in Washington’s political corridors, for example, Musk doesn’t have the same influence as other figures like JPMorgan chief Jimmy Dimon or David Solomon of Goldman Sachs “who control the banking system,” says Colas.
And keeping Twitter buying not just with your own money, but also with massive backing from investors who expect a high return on your risks, has put enormous potential responsibility on its shoulders.
“It can’t make sudden changes and cause chaos there (on Twitter), because all the major advertisers will back down,” Colas warned.
“He likes to push things over the edge,” Haas said, but so far “he has never been self-destructing.”
With his control over Twitter, Musk is in touch with the public more than ever. “I don’t know where he drew his red line,” Haas added.
Read also: Elon Musk orders Twitter staff cuts
