Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October, some of its most active and popular users say. They’ve seen turmoil as a result of the changes introduced by the new CEO.
Six Twitter users with followers ranging from 100,000 to more than a few million said . They have experienced new types of technical glitches since . the mask company laid off about half its workforce. Other problems. they identified following Musk’s controversial move included. A perceived increase in anti-transgender rhetoric and a sporadic loss of followers.
For users with a large following, Twitter is a place to network with professionals in. Their chosen field, build successful businesses and share breaking news. Many of them were disappointed under Kasturi.
Jen Takahashi created and runs the viral “Best of NextDoor” account. Known for posting funny submissions from neighborhood watch apps. The account hit 550,000 Twitter followers in October, he said. Since Musk’s acquisition and the resulting policy changes and layoffs. the account has lost more than 13,000 followers — an unusual drop for a growing account. Musk announced that he wanted to “defeat the bots” on the platform. Which may explain some of the follower losses. But Takahashi suspects that thousands of people have deactivated . Their accounts since the tumultuous takeover.
“As soon as Elon took that plunge into . Twitter headquarters, I lost 400 followers in an hour,” Takahashi said. Referring to Musk’s dramatic entry into the company. , after Musk suspended reporters and reinstated . Donald Trump’s account, Takahashi said, he “saw users move in droves.” Data provided by analytics firm Sensor Tower showed installs of. The app rose 16% in Mask’s first month compared to the previous month but fell 3% year over year.
Matt Nelson, who runs the . Twitter account “We Rate Dogs” with 9.3 million followers, said . He noticed a drop in followers after polling whether. Musk would step down as CEO (poll results favor him leaving the role). Announced that linking to competing social. Media platforms would no longer be allowed on Twitter (he reversed the decision). According to Social Blade, an analytics firm that tracks follower numbers on. Social media platforms, “We Rate Dogs” lost more than 10,000 followers . Within weeks of Musk’s takeover. According to Social Blade. The account lost a significant number of followers for the first time in 2022.
Omit technical glitches, Takahashi and Nelson said their accounts often . Show error messages when they try to refresh their notifications. Which they say didn’t happen before Mask’s tenure. The error message only affected the accounts of high followers
They also both called the Verified Notifications tab, which now shows notifications . From both legacy verified accounts (accounts that were verified before Mask’s takeover. When verification was mandated by Twitter) and . The paid blue check mark (a feature that Mask introduced for a monthly subscription fee. ), became less useful under pay-to-play systems.
“The size of an account we have, we check every mention, but we’re forced to focus on people. Who have followers, where there might be a mutual fan base,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that before Musk arrived, he reached out to Twitter employees. Who engaged with top developers to share new features and gain insights. Teams that worked with creators and advertisers have lost staff members and . leadership since Musk took over. And Nelson said he hasn’t spoken to anyone at Twitter since.
Even conservative influencers with whom Musk interacts have complained about. The platform under his leadership — “catturd2,” a right-wing. Account with 1.2 million followers. Tweeted Tuesday that Twitter is “throttling conservatives to hell again.” The account did not respond to a request for comment.
Prominent Twitter users said they saw a decline in the quality of speech on the platform. With more hateful messages in direct messages and replies.
Clara Sorrenti. Who also goes by her handle, “Kephals,” said she’s noticed that accounts replying to . Her with transphobic rhetoric are getting suspended more . Sorrenti, who is transgender and has 150,000. Twitter followers, said users who misgendered her or used her. Deadname (her name before she transitioned) were suspended for. Violating Twitter’s policy on hate speech. In the past month, Sorrenti said, he’s noticed less discipline among those accounts.
“Transphobia is getting worse on the platform,” Sorrenti said, adding that . Musk himself tweeted that people shouldn’t be forced to use pronouns of . Their choice and associated with the “Libs of TikTok” and other anti-LGBTQ figures. Musk used his Twitter account, with 124 million followers, both
“It’s very confusing to me what his personal opinion is and. What Twitter policy is, because . He announces everything through his personal account,” Sorrenti said.
Queer Twitter personalities said harassment based on gender, sexuality and race existed . long before Musk became CEO, but they noted his relaxed stream of bigoted . Replies and direct messages to conservative influencers.
Since Musk’s acquisition. Takahashi has started a new account called “Best of Dying Twitter. Which has amassed 65,000 followers in two months. It catalogs tweets from and about Musk. Including reports of Twitter staff disruptions. Suspended accounts Musk has reclaimed, and key moments on Musk’s Twitter.
Takahashi said people on Twitter “want to see the show. That unfolds under Musk’s leadership. But her documentation of the past two months has also led to an increase in harassment, she said.
Takahashi shared a screenshot of a direct message request he received from his and . Other accounts that criticized Musk for having pedophilia. Twitter, along with other social media platforms, like Reddit. Has seen a months-long spate of. Rhetoric associating the LGBTQ community with pedophilia and the “grooming” of children.
“I’ve never had so many trolls in my replies and DMs,” Takahashi said. “I’ve been told things I’ve never been told in my life.”
Twitter is only one platform used by some followed users, such as Nelson and Sorrenti. Sorrenti said he tends to tweet, reply to friends and immediately log off. Because, for him, the platform isn’t fun to be on right now. He continues to use it, as it helps direct people to his Twitch account.
The “We Rate Dogs” brand has posted on other platforms, including Instagram and TikTok. And while Nelson says the Twitter meme format works best with his content. He believes adaptation to other social media sites is possible. He also started a TikTok video series of the top five dogs of the week. Which resulted in a growing number of TikTok followers.
“we’re embedded enough in Internet culture. That when people see us somewhere else. They’re willing to follow, they’re willing to engage,” Nelson said. “We have eggs inmanye baskets, not Twitter. But that’s where it works best and we’re forced to adapt.”
