Weekly Content Marketing Trends May 9th, 2022

No, you didn't because it's not a movie; it's real life. Elon Musk, planet Earth's real-life Bruce Wayne, acquired Twitter over the past few weeks, and the internet is feeling some way over it. Whether you are pro- or anti-Elon, one thing is certain: his buying Twitter clearly illustrates that the internet is still the wild west. We've tapped into our infinite supply of popcorn as we sit back and watch what unfolds, but today we're going to speculate what the Batman of electric cars means for the world of content marketing.

A Quick Background of Elon Buying Twitter

A quick breakdown of the deal: Elon offered to buy Twitter for $44 billion and take the company private. A prolific Twitter user himself, he's expressed concern over free speech and censorship. Even though the powers that be accepted Elon's offer, it could be months before the deal is completed.

How Elon Wants to Change Twitter

Aside from the free speech issue, which we'll explore in-depth later, Elon has indicated he wants the following changes:

• An edit button
• Subscribers to Twitter Blue to be able to pay with Dogecoin, which is his favorite cryptocurrency
• He wants to make the Twitter algorithm open source to increase trust among users, a possible way to address his opposition to censorship and shadow-banning
• He wants to eliminate the spam bots that plague Twitter "or die trying" (and we shouldn't underestimate Elon's will)

He's currently saying that he's not planning on layoffs, but plenty of employees seem to be volunteering themselves as Tribute a la The Hunger Games.

The Pro-Elon & Twitter Argument

Not everyone is freaking out about Elon taking over. Conversely, memes of Elon as Jesus Christ himself are circulating on the internet. Why the celebration?

Elon made it incredibly clear that free speech is something he values, and he intends to restore it to Twitter as soon as he takes over. Regarding free speech and Twitter, Musk has said Twitter "is a town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated" as the story goes, accounts have been shadow-banned, deleted, and censored, particularly over the past two years. The most famous case is the banning of then-President Trump after the storming of the nation's capital on January 6. Elon appears to be a free speech purist, and it remains to be seen if Trump will reinstate his account or if he'll be invited in the first place. 

People with shadow-banned and suspended accounts are heralding Elon's takeover, being particularly frustrated with being kicked off a platform that has become integral to communication and shaping thought, conversation, and ultimately culture. It's even reported that conservative-leaning accounts have received a boost in followers and engagement since Elon took over. 

The Anti-Elon & Twitter Argument

Along with employees threatening to flee Twitter once the takeover is complete, there have been plenty of celebrities and thought leaders who are threatening to leave the platform altogether. They argue that Elon will destroy what has been built. Some people say not to jump the ship too quickly as it's likely that Elon could be all talk and no action.

Some of the other reasons that people aren't too pleased about Elon taking over include:

• The question as to whether Donald Trump will be allowed back on the platform after the controversial events of January 6.
• As mentioned, Elon intends to relax regulations and promote free speech. Not everyone sees this as a positive, citing the possibilities of hate speech and other harmful use of the platform.
• The edit button: some people worry that an edit button would give people the ability to rewrite history.
• The commitment to eradicating bots through authentication might bring up some serious issues around privacy issues.
• The proposed shift from ad revenue to a paid subscription model.
• Opening up the algorithm to the public could mean exploitation of other companies while not being of much use to the average person who isn't well-versed in coding.

The Future of Twitter and Content Marketing

There's no way to predict where the cards are going to fall on this Twitter deal. When it comes to your content marketing strategy, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Stay consistent through the circus of it all and continue your content marketing schedule as planned to build relationships with your audience. 
• All social media is subject to crazy changes and even though it should be a part of your content marketing strategy, always invite your audience to join your email list. You control and own your email list, making it safe from the antics of billionaires and those who oppose them.
• Content marketing requires staying on top of different trends and news, so it never hurts to have professional contractors in your corner.

Taking Action

Would you rather scroll through the hours of internet reaction than execute your content marketing? Are you actually really busy being a boss and growing your business and want a real pro in your content marketing corner? 

At scripted, we connect you with highly-vetted professional content marketing ninjas who are happy to take over your content writing needs while you build a business or scroll through Elon drama. You can start a FREE 30-day trial and connect with the perfect content marketing pro for your marketing needs here.