Elon Musk lets Twitter vote on resignation

Now the tech billionaire is asking users about his future in the group.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has Twitter users vote in a poll on whether he should remain head of the online service. “Should I resign as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll,” he wrote on Twitter that night.

Users can vote “Yes” or “No”. Voting is scheduled to end at 1:20 p.m. on Monday. Musk didn’t say when he would resign, if poll results suggest so. “There is no successor,” he replied when asked by a Twitter user about a possible change in the post.

Criticism of Policy Changes

There had previously been massive criticism of Twitter after the online network had declared that it would no longer allow its users to advertise their presence on certain competing platforms – including Facebook, Instagram or Mastodon. The step had also caused a storm of indignation in circles where the actions of the new Twitter owner had been defended in the past.

Musk acknowledged in another tweet that he had gone too far on restrictions on free speech and promised not to implement any more sweeping changes to the platform’s rules without first consulting users online. “My apologies. Won’t happen again.” Then he pushed the poll to his resignation. He then referred to an idiom: “Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.”

Journalist accounts temporarily suspended

Recently, the online service had also caused a stir by blocking the user accounts of several prominent US journalists who reported on Musk or Twitter. According to those affected, the closures were carried out without warning. This was preceded by the blocking of an account that tracked the flights of Musk’s private jet.

Most of the accounts have now been reactivated – but the criticism of the procedure was huge. Many users then advertised the Twitter competitor Mastodon as an alternative – but also before that.

Self-proclaimed champion of freedom of speech

Musk took over Twitter in October and has been pushing his ideas through the online service ever since. In the past he had always presented himself as a champion of freedom of speech. He finally propagated conspiracy theories on Twitter and used the platform to promote the US Republicans in his tweets.

The online service has developed into an important communication platform in recent years: governments, authorities and politicians use Twitter for their public relations work all over the world.