Highlights
- Twitter under Elon Musk has made significant changes, including adding livestreaming features, sparking mixed reactions among users.
- Elon Musk's attempt to mock Twitch's content backfired as top streamers pointed out Twitter's own issues with inappropriate content.
- While some users question Twitter's viability as a livestreaming platform, others highlight key features needed for creators to switch over.
Elon Musk has received backlash in the form of mockery in response to a post he made about Twitch content while promoting the new Twitter livestreaming function. Musk's livestreaming plans for Twitter have drawn the attention of content creators, audiences, and businesses, but this latest commentary from the Twitter CEO may have done more harm than good.
Purchased by Elon Musk in April 2022 to the tune of $44 billion, Twitter has served as one of the most popular and heavily used social media sites across the globe. Frequently referred to as "the bird app," in reference to its initial blue bird logo, Twitter has seen a number of drastic changes following the acquisition by Musk. While some users have been appreciative of certain innovative changes, the addition of a livestreaming feature has raised eyebrows, with a recent post from Musk sparking polarizing conversation.
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Remarking on multiple instances of controversial content being streamed on Twitch, Elon Musk made a Twitter post intended to mock the livestreaming platform, but his plan backfired and was quickly turned around on him and Twitter. The post showed an image from The Simpsons, in which the characters Mr. Burns and his assistant Smithers walk up to a building with a Twitch logo marquee, only to enter and find themselves in a strip club. Twitch has faced backlash over the years for allowing content that some users consider to be inappropriate for the platform, with many questioning the enforcement of the Twitch community streaming guidelines. However, top streamers clapped back at Musk's tweet, with Ludwig, Dream, Hasan, and MoistCr1TiKaL pointing out the hypocrisy of the CEO laughing at inappropriate content when Twitter has been inundated with NSFW reply bots for months.
Is Twitter A Viable Livestreaming Platform?
While a vast majority of replies to Elon Musk's Simpsons tweet commented on the irony of the CEO's joke, a few users did in fact discuss the viability of Twitter as a livestreaming platform. One user shared a list of necessary changes that they would like to see before considering making the switch to streaming on Twitter, noting monetization, bot termination, and discoverability as key features to draw in creators. In terms of technical prowess, Elon Musk streamed Diablo 4 on Twitter in September 2023 to test and showcase the capabilities of livestreaming on the social media site. Twitter may be viable for streamers in terms of providing the basic software elements, but many remain weary about the long-term potential if the platform continues to ignore its struggles with bots.
Content creators big and small continue to test the various livestreaming platforms, from Twitch and YouTube to Kick and now Twitter, with each platform offering pros and cons. As controversies surrounding livestreaming sites pop up left and right, it remains to be seen if Twitter will fully stand as a competitor in the space.