It’s actually tough to make any evaluation of Elon Musk’s time answerable for Twitter as but, as a result of whereas he has made some dangerous selections, he’s additionally reversed course on most of them, and whereas he continues to strive issues that seemingly don’t have any probability of understanding, he’s additionally not taking previous precedent as definitive.
Which is possibly a superb factor?
Within the newest instance of Musk’s shoot first, ask questions later administration fashion, Elon has seemingly reversed the unpopular determination to charge for all usage of Twitter’s API, not less than in some functions
Responding to suggestions, Twitter will allow a lightweight, write-only API for bots offering good content material that’s free
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 5, 2023
As per Elon’s tweet, Twitter will proceed to permit ‘bots offering good content material’ to entry Twitter’s API totally free, which seemed set to be one of many key losses of Twitter’s current determination to paywall all API entry.
Although a lot of the angst on this case got here right down to poor communication – final week, Twitter announced that, beginning February ninth, it could be chopping off free entry to its API, which is the important thing connector that many third occasion apps and Twitter’s bots use to operate.
Beginning February 9, we’ll now not help free entry to the Twitter API, each v2 and v1.1. A paid primary tier can be obtainable as an alternative ????
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) February 2, 2023
That triggered a powerful response from the developer group, although a day later, Elon additional defined that:
Yeah, free API is being abused badly proper now by bot scammers & opinion manipulators. There’s no verification course of or price, really easy to spin up 100k bots to do dangerous issues.
Simply ~$100/month for API entry with ID verification will clear issues up enormously.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2023
This wasn’t an official announcement, nor was it communicated by way of the Twitter Builders account. This was Elon, in an trade with one other consumer, randomly offering beneficial context that may have averted a lot of the angst and concern that got here with the unique Twitter Dev assertion.
Now, the larger query is whether or not $100 is any disincentive to spammers, who doubtless make far more than that from bot exercise. However regardless, $100 is probably going inexpensive for a lot of the third-party apps which seemed set to lose probably the most from this replace in coverage, so it’s truly nowhere close to as dangerous as the primary announcement appeared.
It’s simply dangerous communication, and on condition that Twitter now not has a comms division, that is sensible.
However it’s additionally the proper microcosm of the Elon expertise, which he each advantages and suffers from, although possibly not in equal measure.
The important thing factor to notice is that Elon loves consideration. His one undisputable ability is that he is aware of learn how to make headlines, learn how to get folks wanting his means, which is why his major cash maker, Tesla, has by no means wanted a comms division both. They simply let Elon say no matter he likes, good or dangerous, and the press comes operating – and on this respect, you possibly can see how his strategy to such bulletins at Twitter truly helps them get wider protection and consciousness, versus them being outlined by way of common channels.
However is {that a} good factor? Getting the developer group offside looks like pointless collateral harm, whereas the negativity this creates additionally appears much less conducive to practical working preparations with exterior companions and suppliers.
It looks like that could possibly be dangerous for his firms, long run – however then once more, the extra clear nature of such, and his willingness to vary course in a responsive means, is also helpful. Possibly?
Primarily, what we’re getting with Twitter 2.0 is a window into Elon Musk’s ‘hardcore’ administration fashion, which isn’t fully reliant on inside debate and decision-making, and in addition takes into consideration viewers response, and elements that into its course of.
Which is definitely, most likely, higher, not less than in some methods. I imply, Twitter, in occasions previous, took months, even years to realize any traction on updates, earlier than rolling them out, then it was pressured to stay with them, even when they have been unpopular, because of the period of time invested.
With 70% fewer workers, Musk doesn’t have that luxurious, however he has repeatedly proven a willingness to take heed to the case for and in opposition to every replace, and shift tack accordingly.
So whereas he has made some dangerous selections, and can proceed to take action, Twitter is transferring quick. It’s breaking issues too, but it surely’s nonetheless operating, and Musk appears assured that he can convert it right into a revenue positive business someday quickly.
And now, your climate bots, your system updates, your automated accounts that allow you to know what you need by way of tweet, will proceed to function. Until Elon modifications his thoughts once more.
