The Real Story

The future of Twitter

04.29.2022 - By BBC World ServicePlay

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

The Chief Executive of the social media company, Twitter, has acknowledged the company's future is uncertain after the board accepted a takeover offer from Elon Musk, the world's richest man. Mr Musk describes himself as a "free speech absolutist" and he says he will relax content restrictions on the platform - used by many celebrities, politicians, journalists and commentators. Some people have expressed their fears of a Musk takeover, which they say, will lead to an entirely ungoverned space - allowing propaganda, conspiracy theories and abuse to flourish. Others say they relish the prospect of the end of what they see censorship by a politically-correct West Coast tech elite. So what difference will Mr Musk's vision make to the Twitter user-experience? Will advertisers pay to be on a platform with more provocative content? And how much will change be constrained by the variety of rules governing digital media, around the world? Ritula Shah and a panel of guests discuss the future of Twitter.

Producers: Alba Morgade and Ellen Otzen

More episodes from The Real Story