(Fox News) Members of the media renewed their anger against billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk on Tuesday after reports showed him closing his deal to officially buy Twitter.
Fox Business reported Twitter intended to close the deal for Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the social media company at $54.20 per share, the original offer Musk made in April. Shares from Twitter stock quickly soared after the announcement which also received approval from Twitter shareholders.
Reporters and journalists, however, expressed doubts and even fears about Musk’s purchase.
NBC News reporter Ben Collins notably penned a lengthy Twitter thread describing how Musk’s Twitter purchase could affect the 2022 midterm elections.
A Delaware judge is hearing arguments, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 over the exchange of information by lawyers in Twitter’s lawsuit seeking to force billionaire Elon Musk to carry through with his $44 billion acquisition of the social media giant. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
“For those of you asking: Yes, I do think this site can and will change pretty dramatically if Musk gets full control over it. No, there is no immediate replacement. If it gets done early enough, based on the people he’s aligned with, yes, it could actually affect midterms,” Collins wrote.
For those of you asking: Yes, I do think this site can and will change pretty dramatically if Musk gets full control over it.
No, there is no immediate replacement.
If it gets done early enough, based on the people he’s aligned with, yes, it could actually affect midterms.
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) October 4, 2022
NPR editor Neela Banerjee retweeted the thread writing, “As usual, Ben Collins provides a useful thread on the broader implications for the rest of us of a Musk takeover of Twitter.”
Others also agreed with Collins on the risk posed by Musk purchasing Twitter.
“Be afraid, be actually afraid,” former Politico Magazine editor Garrett M. Graff wrote.
Be afraid, be actually afraid: https://t.co/0fqcRU7uKo
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) October 4, 2022
Euronews correspondent Shona Murray tweeted, “The end of Twitter as we know it is nigh.”
“Huge changes anticipated on this bird app after it goes private. Guardrails will be dropped, misinfo & conspiracy theories will thrive. No functional alternatives available, this is it: a complete destruction of the global public square. Been nice y’all,” BBC journalist Dickens Olewe wrote.
MSNBC host Joy Reid also retweeted Collins’ thread along with author Don Winslow’s warning about the threat Elon’s ownership of the social media site poses.
“*IF* Musk gets control of Twitter, And Zuckerberg has control of Facebook, And CNN is under new Republican backed management, We have a massive problem. And do not listen to anyone who tells you differently,” Winslow tweeted.
MSNBC host Joy Reid retweeted a comment from author Don Winslow on Musk’s Twitter purchase. (Twitter)
Other reporters and correspondents pushed fears and concerns ranging from threats to democracy, free speech and religious freedom.
“If you think Elon Musk giving Trump, Project Veritas and Alex Jones a bigger social platform to manipulate will benefit the future of free speech, you’re totally delusional,” Southern Poverty Law Center senior investigative reporter Michael Edison Hayden tweeted.
“Given news Musk may end up buying Twitter after all: Back in April, major Jewish and Muslim groups both voiced concerns about him taking over — e.g., it ‘threatens to make Twitter an even more dangerous place for Muslims and other marginalized people,’” Religious News Service national reporter Jack Jenkins remarked.
PoliticusUSA head Sarah Reese Jones wrote, “Before 2020, Facebook deplatformed progressives, then it came for mainstream media and elevated only radicalized conservatives. Cut to 2022, we know Elon Musk plans to do same with Twitter. We know how damaging it will be.Tech giants pose ongoing threat to western democracy.”
Before 2020, Facebook deplatformed progressives, then it came for mainstream media and elevated only radicalized conservatives.
Cut to 2022, we know Elon Musk plans to do same with Twitter. We know how damaging it will be.
Tech giants pose ongoing threat to western democracy.
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 4, 2022
