‘Buy Twitter’ Trends After Elon Musk Questions If Platform Interferes With Free Speech

Tesla CEO Elon Musk caused a stir on Twitter over the weekend after he questioned whether the social media platform has been interfering with allowing people to exercise their first amendment rights.

The drama began on Friday when the SpaceX founder asked followers to take part in a poll. “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?” Musk tweeted along with the poll.

Of the more than 2 million people who participated, 70.4% voted no, while 29.6% voted yes. “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully,” Musk wrote in a follow-up tweet.

The following day, Musk shared two tweets that began to make some people believe he could be starting his own social media website or may consider buying Twitter.

“Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy. What should be done?” he wrote on Saturday in a tweet. Musk added, “Is a new platform needed?”

Shortly after the tweet, “Buy Twitter” began trending, with users encouraging the billionaire to purchase the social media platform.

“Buy Twitter and make it free speech. You’d take over social media,” one person wrote in a reply to Musk.

Another person suggested Musk will succeed whether he chooses to buy the social media platform or create his own.

“When Elon Musk sets out to do something, he gets it done. He’ll either buy Twitter or defeat them with his own product. If he can take on and beat Boeing and Northrop Grumman in space, Twitter and social media are child’s play,” the individual wrote.

Despite the speculation, Musk has not made an official announcement on whether he plans to take action in regards to the poll he released on Twitter.