After completing his acquisition of the micro-messaging service, Musk isn't going to take long to make some major changes to the platform.
Musk told employees that if they didn't build a paid verification system by the end of the year, they would have to leave the company.
Some of the platform's most prominent users have objected to the fee being used to allow users to keep their verification badges.
Stephen King wanted to know how much it would cost to keep his blue check. I think they should pay me. I'm going to be like Enron if that happens.
We have to pay the bills. Musk pleaded with King for money. Advertisers can't be relied on entirely. How much is it?
The episode corroborates the view that Musk hasn't fully thought through his new plans for the platform, even going as far as pulling more than 50Tesla employees, including autopilot engineers, to help out at the ailing social media property.
Many people were appalled at the decision. They had to pay the richest man in the world to keep their blue check.
It has been pointed out that paying to get verified could have a lot of consequences, such as laying out the red carpet for the same bots that Musk claims to be trying to destroy.
Musk hasn't fully addressed the controversy. He attended a celebrity Halloween party and watched his space company launch a mega rocket.
In his reply to King, Musk said he would explain the rationale in longer form. It's the only way to beat the bots and troll.
It will be difficult for Musk to turn his private business into a profit.
It doesn't seem to be a winning strategy to beg some of the most notable people on the platform to pony up some cash.
Musk brought in engineers from the company to review the code.
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