/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8964157/acastro_170731_1777_0004_v3.jpg)
Elon Musk has found himself in a media stir again and this time it’s relating to a feud he has with Apple. Several companies have already halted their spending on Twitter due to concerns about Musk’s plans on moderating the site’s content. He believes there has been pressure from activists that has caused advertising to drop which resulted in decreased revenue. Amid this controversy, he also blamed Apple on their censorship making a statement on Twitter that reads, “Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?”
Among this accusation, Musk also added that Apple has threatened to withhold users from accessing Twitter from the app store, but Apple will not say why. Apple was also one of their top advertisers with $48 million worth of ads on the social media platform. This leaves Musk even more under pressure as further companies pause their advertising including General Mills and Volkswagen.
This leaves a lot of open questions on the future of Twitter. Musk has already proposed charging users for a subscription to the social media site. A monthly fee would be applied for Twitter accounts and this could be a boost in revenue for the platform. However, companies that use the app store have to follow Apple’s rules and regulations especially since it’s the only source to install software in iPhones. This means Apple could claim up to 30 percent of the fees that Twitter charges to their users.
With this rivalry brewing, it’s been suggested that Musk is prepared for a lengthy PR fight over Apple’s app fees and rules on app purchases. In a separate tweet, he posted a meme that exhibited a car below a road sign displaying two options: “Pay 30%” or “Go to war.” The car was headed towards to the “Go to war” choice.
Musk purchased twitter last month for $44 billion. Apple has no comment yet on Musk’s tweets.
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63788437
Dil Bole Oberoi
