On Friday Sir Elton John announced he was leaving Twitter, and blaming “misinformation” which John said will flourish with Elon Musk taking over the social media giant,
“All my life I’ve tried to use music to bring people together. Yet is saddens me to see how misinformation is not being used to divide our world.
I’ve decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked.”
All my life I’ve tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world.
I’ve decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked.— Elton John (@eltonofficial) December 9, 2022
Musk has allowed a “general amnesty” for many suspended accounts since buying the network for $44 billion. On multiple occasions, Musk has sought the advice of Twitter users in which accounts to un-suspend, and as many Americans are in favor of discerning truth for themselves rather than being told what to believe it is not uncommon for 70% or more of the Twitter poll respondents to vote for free speech rather than suppression.
Musk has also polled Twitter users on censorship coming out of other companies.
He recently asked users if Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers. Almost 85% of over 2 million voters said “yes.”
Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Musk responded to John asking if he was speaking of any specific misinformation, saying,
“I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you’re concerned about?”
I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you’re concerned about?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022
Musk has made it clear that he believes free speech is essential and that he thinks when he has angered the far left and the far right Twitter is where it should be with cultivating civil conversations among those in the political center,
“You know Twitter is being fair when extremists on far right and far left are simultaneously upset!
Twitter aims to serve center 80% of people, who wish to learn, laugh & engage in reasoned debate.
You know Twitter is being fair when extremists on far right and far left are simultaneously upset!
Twitter aims to serve center 80% of people, who wish to learn, laugh & engage in reasoned debate. ❤️
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 2, 2022