Just a week after the acquisition, Elon Musk has started Twitter staff cuts: i layoffs they start right today. But they will continue for a long time, given that the forecasts are of an exodus by half of the employees of the social network. While Musk’s ideas for monetize find the protests of many users on the platform.
Elon Musk begins layoffs for Twitter today
Musk had already foreshadowed this even before the transaction, when he had begun negotiations with Twitter again. He would have fired half the employees. And he starts doing it today. Employees will receive an email by 9 amor with time of the Pacific coast of the United States, 17 local time. The letter will tell them if they can still work for the company or not. Meanwhile, Twitter will suspend office access badges. “Temporarily“, At least for those who will not be fired.
“We recognize that it is an incredibly complicated experience to live, whether you are affected or not,” writes the social company in the communication sent to users. “Thank you for continuing to adhere to Twitter’s policies that prevent discussing confidential information about the company on social media, with the press or elsewhere “.
Thousands of contracts terminated
Internal communication does not expressly mention it. But according to Elon Musk, the layoffs that begin today will affect about half of the social workforce. Which has 7,500 people: the laid-offs should therefore oscillate between 3,500 and 4,000.
According to rumors, Musk’s external consultant theme has evaluated what engineers and managers the company needs. Building heavily on recent additions to Twitter’s source code, employees report to The Verge.
Who have begun to unlink their Twitter accounts from work email, a corporate obligation that could leave them without a platform if they were fired with an email tonight. In internal Slack channels, many users complain about the lack of internal communication from Musk and the other managers. Which make these dismissals look like a sword of Damocles on everyone’s head, without distinction. The future of all company workers lies in a single email.
Less expenses, more monetization. But will it work?
Elon Musk’s plan seems to focus primarily on cutting operating costs, starting with the layoffs that began today. But there are also other items of spending that Musk wants to cut. As the Chirp conference for Twitter developers, it should have held November 16 in San Francisco but that is instead been canceled. Less than two weeks before the start, with all due respect to those who had already bought plane tickets and accommodation. And then there is the dissolution of the Twitter board, which more than saving money seems to want to make it clear that, for better or for worse, Elon decides everything.
In the meantime, there are many proposals to monetize on the social network. Although none are already operational. In fact, the news of showing paid videos has recently arrived, putting a paywall for some content (something that for many commenters wants to appeal to OnlyFans). And then the payment to have the account verified, the “blue checkmark“Which currently only have accounts recognized as important by the social network.
The first week of Elon Musk’s management of Twitter brings many questionable news, not all in terms of monetization (for example the Edit button for everyone). But what they will certainly change the platform. Even if the greatest impact is likely to be that due to the transversal dismissal started today: what will be the effect on the platform, both for how much what about how content moderation works?
A new era for Twitter, which for now seems to leave most users more baffled than enthusiastic. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.