Responding to the news that Twitter had reportedly been sold to Elon Musk, the left-wing site The Verge tweeted, “How to deactivate your Twitter account,” with a link to a story they originally ran on February 25, 2020, explaining how Twitter users could leave the site.
How to deactivate your Twitter account https://t.co/KVLIDkfWBg pic.twitter.com/IWg3Oh1BJp
— The Verge (@verge) April 25, 2022
Conservatives delightedly responded:
COPE AND SEETHE https://t.co/1iY1JmYH9Y
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) April 25, 2022
DO IT https://t.co/FzaBjTvREM
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) April 25, 2022
Self-deportation. https://t.co/CDvKrAIjcC
— Aaron M. Renn 🇺🇸 (@aaron_renn) April 25, 2022
Omg yal are being so dramatic 🤣 https://t.co/aFZeHcgKLW
— Sara Dietschy 🍑y (@saradietschy) April 25, 2022
I wish I had a bigger progressive following so I could share this more widely https://t.co/20mzVEoA1c
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) April 25, 2022
On their site, before actually explaining how someone could deactivate their Twitter account, The Verge railed, “There’s no questioning the benefits of Twitter. It’s a convenient way to get your memes, world news, and pop culture hot takes all in one place. But being an active Twitter user requires sifting through a daily deluge of toxic characters, including QAnon, white supremacists, bots, deepfakes, and more (although you can’t find Donald Trump there anymore).
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday morning of the imminent sale, “The two sides worked through the night to hash out a deal that would be valued at $54.20 a share, or $44 billion, the people said. Assuming there isn’t a last-minute snag, the deal is expected to be announced after the market closes Monday, if not sooner.”
Musk stated: “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated. I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.”
The Twitter board, which includes founder Jack Dorsey and current CEO Parag Agrawal, initially tried to fend off Musk with a so-called “poison pill,” which would dilute the value of his shares and allow current shareholders to increase their holdings. Since making his offer, Musk has used the platform itself – on which he has 80 million followers – to criticize its silencing of conservative viewpoints. He has also said he would consider making immediate changes, including adding an “edit” button and changing the way users gain coveted “blue checkmark” status.
Some members of the media joined the chorus of those stating they would leave Twitter if Musk bought the site; CNBC journalist John Rosevear tweeted on Monday before the news of the sale was reported, “Might be time to exit this platform soon.”
Might be time to exit this platform soon. https://t.co/WvIbKQ1nk5
— John Rosevear 🇺🇸 (@john__rosevear) April 25, 2022
CNN contributor John W. Dean tweeted on Sunday, “Not sure I am interested in Twitter if Elon Musk owns it.”
Not sure I am interested in Twitter if Elon Musk owns it.
— John W. Dean (@JohnWDean) April 24, 2022
Buncha lefty Twitter accounts declare they're leaving. This place is already getting better. pic.twitter.com/lNWsjHgM6C
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) April 25, 2022
"Leaving Twitter" is trending with news of @elonmusk potentially buying Twitter. Does anyone actually believe these people will actually leave and give up their followers? Please. . . What they are going to Truth Social?
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) April 25, 2022