Elon Musk has decided not to resign as CEO of Twitter, at least for now. Over the weekend, he posted a poll inviting platform users to shape the future of the company. More than 17.5 million people weighed in, with roughly 57.5% voting to change leadership. Despite vowing to honor the result, the outcome did not seal his decision. In the hours after the poll closed, he remained quiet on the platform, only to surface later with a policy shift. The new stance stated that Twitter Blue subscribers, the platform’s paid tier, would be the only users eligible to participate in political polls. Musk acknowledged the point and signaled that the change would proceed, signaling a shift toward subscriber-driven governance. [Citation: General News Summary]
The founder then announced a move that would redefine executive accountability at Twitter while maintaining the ownership structure that favors private control. The purchase of Twitter for 44 billion dollars, completed after a lengthy attempt to exit the deal, has been framed as a turning point for platform policy. Observers note that the decision to empower paying subscribers to influence political voting marks a departure from prior practice, and it highlights a broader push to tie user input to revenue-based incentives. This interpretation has drawn both praise and criticism from observers across North America. [Citation: Major News Coverage]
Controversies surrounding the leadership decisions
Since Musk assumed leadership, a series of bold moves has sparked debate among users and analysts alike. Critics argue that some measures undermine open dialogue while supporters emphasize rapid responses to the changing digital landscape. Among the notable actions was the decision to block access for some accounts that publicly tracked sensitive aircraft movements for private individuals, including high-profile figures. Journalists reporting on internal policy shifts have also faced new restrictions. [Citation: Media Analysis]
Over the weekend, Twitter briefly prohibited posts linking to competing social networks such as TikTok, Instagram, and Mastodon before reversing the ban by day’s end. Musk framed the reversal as a prelude to upcoming votes on large political questions, suggesting future opportunities to weigh in again. In the meantime, the platform’s governance moved toward limiting political polls to a narrower group of users who meet certain criteria. The move underscores a broader trend toward user segments that are tied to the platform’s monetization model. [Citation: Tech Policy Review]