Your Tech Story

Twitter

Twitter Circle

What is Twitter Circle? Here’s all you need to know:

In the next months, Twitter users may have something new to look forward to the Twitter Circle. Twitter Circle is a Twitter feature that allows you to create a small group of people with whom you can then exchange your opinions.

According to a Twitter blog article, “you pick who’s in your Twitter Circle, and only the persons you’ve added may react to and interact with the Tweets you share in the Circle.” 

Source: newsable.asianetnews.com

Twitter Circle, the microblogging platform’s iOS and Android apps are now available to more individuals. This feature is similar to Instagram stories in that it allows you to select people and express your opinions with a limited group of people. You can add up to 150 people to your Circle to share your tweets. Furthermore, these 150 people do not have to be followers of yours. Non-followers can also be added to your Circle. They will be notified when you add or remove people from your Twitter Circle. It’s worth noting that Circle is still in its early stages, with only a limited number of people in the world able to send out Circle tweets.

How to use it:

It’s easy to use the Twitter Circle. Both the Android and iOS versions of the app allow you to do so. Start tweeting your thoughts by opening your Twitter app and selecting ‘Tweet.’ Select ‘Twitter Circle’ from the ‘Everyone’ menu at the top. You can then choose who you want to add to your Circle and who you want to delete. The people who have been added to your Circle will be notified after you publish. They would receive a notice informing them that they have been chosen to view the tweet.

People who have been added to your Circle will not be able to retweet your ideas. They can, however, download the tweet or snap a screenshot of it.

Compose a tweet to see if you can join the Circle. You’ll know you can utilize the feature if there’s a new drop-down menu with the option ‘Everyone.’ You may check out, add, or remove persons you want to share the tweet with by tapping on ‘Everyone.’

Twitter Circle
Image source: www.deccanherald.com

Here are some frequently asked questions:

  • What’s the difference between Twitter Circle and having a password-protected account?

When you set your account to protected mode, only your followers will be able to see the Tweets you share each time you compose and send one. This is a one-time update that stays in effect until you turn it off. Each time you compose a Tweet, you can choose your audience with Circle. You’ll be able to send one Tweet to your Circle and another to all of your followers.

  • Who has access to your list?

Only you have access to the whole list of persons in your Twitter Circle. Although no one can access a list of Circle members, members can see your engagement when someone likes or reacts to a Twitter Circle Tweet you share, unless your account is protected. If someone in your Circle maintains a private account, only their followers who are also in your Twitter Circles will be able to observe their conversation.

  • Who has access to your Tweets?

Anyone in your Twitter Circle can see any Twitter Circles Tweets you’ve shared, as well as any unprotected responses to those Tweets. If a Circle member maintains a protected account, only their followers in your Circle will be able to see their replies. Unless your Circles share similar members, your friend’s Circle will not be able to see any portion of the chat.

The feature is currently being tested, according to Twitter’s Joseph Nunez. The feature will be rolled out to everyone whenever Twitter receives enough input from the test group.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Confirms Acquisition Of Twitter For $44 Billion.

Elon Musk, a billionaire, has taken control of Twitter in one of the biggest tech deals in history. Elon Musk will pay approximately $44 billion for the social network, with shares valued at $54.20. On April 14, Musk announced his takeover bid, calling it his ‘best and final offer.’

Free Speech

“Free speech is the foundation of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where important issues affecting humanity’s future are discussed.” I also want to make Twitter better than it has ever been by adding new features, opening up the algorithms to increase trust, defeating spambots, and authenticating all humans. “I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock Twitter’s tremendous potential,” Elon Musk said in a press statement posted to his Twitter account.

On the platform, he has been a staunch supporter of ‘free speech.’ “I invested in Twitter because I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” Musk wrote in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. “Twitter has extraordinary potential,” he wrote in the filing.

“I hope that even my harshest critics remain on Twitter because that is what free speech means,” Musk said earlier today on Twitter. It’s also worth noting that Musk sent out a rather obnoxious tweet about Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Saturday, ostensibly in response to Gates shorting Tesla. More than a million people have liked the tweet. He then joked that his tweet was being reviewed by the ‘shadowban council.’

Elon Musk
Image source: news7h.com

New Ownership

According to Twitter, the publicly-traded company will now become a private company owned by Musk, who negotiated a $54.20 per-share purchase price.

“Twitter serves a purpose and is relevant to the entire world. We are immensely proud of our teams and inspired by work that has never been more critical, “Parag Agrawal, the company’s CEO, said in a tweet.

Musk secured $46.5 billion in financing last week to complete the deal, and Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, predicted earlier in the day that the board would likely accept his offer because no other buyer could be found.

In an interview with CNBC, he said, “This basically put (their) back against the wall, and they had to come to the negotiation table.” Around 1915 GMT, Twitter stock was trading 5.9% higher on Wall Street.

Poison Pill Strategy

While the board initially stated that it was considering Musk’s offer, it later rejected him and implemented a “poison pill” strategy that would have made it more difficult for Musk to gain control of the company.

Musk, whose immense wealth stems from the popularity of Tesla electric vehicles as well as other ventures, announced last week that he had secured funding.

Despite Musk’s wealth, the issue of financing had been viewed as a potential stumbling block because a large portion of his holdings is in Tesla stock rather than cash.

Musk claimed in a filing that the deal was made possible by a $13 billion debt facility from a financing consortium led by Morgan Stanley, a separate $12.5 billion margin loan from the same bank, and $21 billion from his own assets.

Musk’s efforts have sparked optimism about Twitter’s commercial potential, which has struggled to achieve profitable growth despite its cultural and political clout.

New Features

Twitter has made progress on new monetization features, such as subscription products, under Agrawal, who took over as CEO late last year. “Short term, Musk’s involvement at this stage runs the risk of disrupting those efforts,” Truist Securities said in a note.

However, the campaign of the polarising Tesla CEO has alarmed technology and free-speech experts, who point to Musk’s erratic statements and history of bullying critics, which contradict his stated goals.

According to the progressive group Media Matters for America, Trump could return to Twitter if Musk’s acquisition goes through, according to the progressive group Media Matters for America.

In a statement, the group’s president Angelo Carusone said, “Any negotiations to sell Twitter to Musk must include clear enforceable mechanisms to uphold and maintain existing community standards, including the removal of those who violate those standards.”

Twitter

Twitter Bans Ads That Oppose Climate Change Science.

Ads that deny the reality of climate change were banned by Twitter on Friday.

On Earth Day, Twitter made the announcement as it tries to fend off a hostile takeover bid from billionaire Elon Musk, who has stated that people should be able to say whatever they want on the platform.

In a blog post, Twitter global sustainability manager Casey Junod said, “Misleading advertisements on Twitter that contradict the scientific consensus on climate change are prohibited, in line with our inappropriate content policy.”

“We believe that climate denial should not be made profitable on Twitter, and that misleading advertisement should not detract from important discussions about the climate crisis.”

Last year, Twitter launched a Topic feature to help users find conversations about climate change, as well as hubs of “credible, authoritative” information on a variety of high-profile topics, such as climate change science.

Twitter
Image source: www.bssnews.net

“We recognise that false information about climate change can sabotage efforts to protect the environment,” Junod said.

“Now, more than ever, all of us must take meaningful climate action.”

As appealing as access to Musk’s wealth maybe, Twitter does not want to be ruled by a billionaire who is known for acting without thinking about the consequences of his actions.

The global one-to-many messaging platform is taking steps to prevent Musk from acquiring all of Twitter’s outstanding shares, indicating that concerns about his leadership style outweigh the potential payoff.

Musk, the world’s richest man and a controversial and frequent Twitter user, made an unsolicited $43 billion (roughly Rs. 3,28,800 crore) bid for the social media network earlier this month, citing improved freedom of speech as a motivation.

Musk favors a hands-off approach to content policing, which can be difficult in high-profile cases like that of former US President Donald Trump, who was banned following his supporters’ assault on the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the US election result last year.

However, the polarising Tesla CEO’s campaign has alarmed technology and free-speech experts, who point to Musk’s erratic statements and history of bullying critics as contradicting his stated goals.

The board of Twitter decided to use a “poison pill” defense, in which any acquisition of more than 15% of the company’s stock without its approval would trigger a plan to flood the market with shares, making a takeover more difficult.

Why does Elon Musk want to buy Twitter?

Elon Musk purchased slightly more than 9% of Twitter on March 14th, making him the company’s largest outside shareholder. On April 10th, it appeared that he would join the board of directors, as announced by Twitter’s CEO, Parag Agrawal, but that possibility had faded by then. On April 14th, Musk made an offer to buy the rest of Twitter and take it private for $54 and 20 cents per share. The offer valued the company at around $43 billion, significantly higher than its current market capitalization of nearly $36 billion. Musk’s efforts have sparked a corporate drama worthy of “Succession,” with talk of hostile takeovers, proxy battles, and board replacements all being discussed as ways to get the deal done.

Musk is worth around $280 billion, thanks in part to Tesla’s market capitalization of more than a trillion dollars, and he has pledged $21 billion in personal equity to take Twitter private. The social media platform is insignificant. A deal of some sort appears to be on the cards if Musk can gather the necessary funds. His motivation for using Twitter in the first place is less clear.

Twitter has a reputation for being a dysfunctional company. It has been unable to keep up with competitors such as Facebook and TikTok, and its updates and new features have arrived infrequently and inconclusively, causing users to become irritated. Since its inception in 2006, its advertising-based business model has hardly changed. Twitter’s dual status as a complete disaster and a hugely influential platform make it an easy target: it elicits strong reactions, including suggestions for how to fix it and calls to shut it down completely.

Musk appears to be hell-bent on bringing Twitter back to its former glory days when tweeting had fewer ramifications. Because Twitter is taken seriously as a public platform, it has suffered consequences. Musk was charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018 after tweeting about having the funds to take Tesla private at $420 per share, a move that resulted in him stepping down as the company’s chairman for three years and paying a $20 million fine.

Twitter is currently attempting to defend itself against Musk’s efforts. If any individual or group—presumably led by Musk—acquires more than 15% of the stock, the company adopts a “poison pill” policy that dilutes the stock and makes a tranche of new shares available to current holders. The cost of acquiring the company would rise as a result. 

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Makes ‘Best And Final’ Offer To Buy Twitter; Launches Hostile Takeover Bid Worth $43 Billion.

Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur, has offered to buy Twitter Inc. for $43 billion, slamming the company’s management and claiming to be the only person who can unlock the “extraordinary potential” of a communication platform used by more than 200 million people every day.

Musk said he’ll pay $54.20 per share in cash, which is 38% higher than the price on April 1, the last trading day before he went public with his stake. In New York on Thursday, the social media company’s stock was little changed at $45.81, indicating scepticism that one of the platform’s most outspoken users will succeed in his takeover attempt.

“I invested in Twitter because I believe it has the potential to be a global platform for free speech, and I believe that free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” he wrote in the filing. “However, since making my investment, I’ve come to realise that the company, in its current form, will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative.”

Elon Musk, 50, made the offer public on Thursday in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. On April 4, the billionaire, who also owns Tesla, revealed a 9 percent stake in the company. Tesla’s stock dropped 1.5 percent in pre-market trading as a result of the news.

Twitter’s board of directors will consider the proposal, and any response will be in the best interests of “all Twitter stockholders,” according to the company.

The bid is the latest chapter in Musk’s tumultuous relationship with the social media platform. The executive is one of Twitter’s most-followed firebrands, frequently tweeting memes and taunts to his more than 80 million followers as @elonmusk. He’s been vocal about the changes he’d like to see at the social media platform, and the company offered him a seat on the board after he announced his stake, which made him the company’s largest individual shareholder.

Elon Musk
Image source: indianexpress.com

Elon Musk began soliciting feedback from fellow Twitter users soon after his stake was made public, proposing everything from turning Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter to adding an edit button to tweets and granting automatic verification marks to premium users. Given that several celebrities with large followings rarely tweet, one tweet suggested that Twitter might be dying.

He is one of the few people who can afford a full takeover because he is dissatisfied with the power that comes with being Twitter’s largest investor. According to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index, he’s worth around $260 billion, compared to Twitter’s market value of around $37 billion.

In a letter to Twitter’s board, Musk stated that “in its current form, Twitter will neither thrive nor serve [its free speech] societal imperative.” Twitter should be turned into a private company.”

It is unlikely that the takeover will take a long time. “If the deal doesn’t work, I’ll have to reconsider my position as a shareholder,” Musk said. “I don’t have faith in management and don’t believe I can drive the necessary change in the public market.”

According to today’s statement, Musk informed Twitter’s board of directors over the weekend that he believes the company should be taken private.

According to Vital Knowledge’s Adam Crisafulli, the $54.20 per share offer is “too low” for shareholders and the board to accept, despite the fact that the company’s shares hit $70 (roughly Rs. 5,300) less than a year ago.

Despite the fact that Musk is the world’s richest man, he has yet to reveal how he will come up with $43 billion in cash.

“This becomes a hostile takeover offer that will cost a significant amount of money,” said Neil Campling, Mirabaud Equity Research’s head of TMT research. “To fund it, he’ll have to sell a significant amount of Tesla stock or take out a large loan against it.”

What is Musk’s goal for Twitter?

Musk is one of the most popular people on Twitter, with 80.5 million followers, outnumbering celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez.

However, his frequent tweeting has resulted in regulatory issues, such as his long-running dispute with the Securities and Exchange Commission after he tweeted in 2019 that he had the funds to buy Tesla for $420 per share. That didn’t happen, but it did cause the stock to rise, drawing the attention of regulators.

Musk had been expected, as Twitter’s largest shareholder, to press the company on issues of free speech, a subject on which he has spoken out. Musk’s acquisition offer letter emphasised this point, emphasising his commitment to “free speech.”

Elon Musk

Elon Musk To Join Twitter’s Board Of Directors After Big Move.

Elon Musk will join Twitter‘s board of directors just one day after it was revealed that he had purchased a 9% stake in the company, making him the largest shareholder in the social media platform.

“I’m thrilled to announce that @elonmusk has been appointed to our board of directors!” On Tuesday, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal sent out a tweet. “It became clear to us in recent conversations with Elon that he would add tremendous value to our Board.”

“He’s both a passionate believer and an intense critic of the service,” Agrawal continued, “which is exactly what we need on Twitter and in the boardroom to make us stronger in the long run. Elon, welcome!”

“I’m looking forward to working with Parag and the Twitter board in the coming months to make significant improvements to Twitter!” In response to Agrawal, Musk said.

Elon Musk was also welcomed to the board of directors by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. “I’m overjoyed that Elon has decided to join the Twitter board! He is deeply concerned about the state of our world and Twitter’s role in it. Both Parag and Elon lead with their hearts, and they’ll make an amazing team “In a tweet, he stated.

Elon Musk
Image source: foxmetronews.com

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO bought a 9.2 percent stake in Twitter on Monday, making him the company’s largest shareholder. Many people were surprised by the move, as Musk had just complained about free speech on the platform in a tweet last week.

Tesla’s CEO uses Twitter to communicate with his 80 million followers on a regular basis, which can get him in trouble. Following a series of impromptu tweets about taking Tesla private in 2018, US securities regulators appointed a Twitter babysitter for Musk, who is responsible for reviewing everything the CEO tweets about his company.

Musk is expected to press Twitter on issues of free speech, a subject about which he has spoken out. Several social media platforms, including Twitter, are attempting to strike a balance between free speech and the censorship of content deemed hateful, harmful, or false.

He was even seen asking Twitter users if he should start a new social media platform where people could share their thoughts. That’s when the majority of Twitter users suggested Musk buy the company, and now he’s the company’s largest shareholder.

Musk’s Twitter stake is classified as a passive investment, implying that he is a long-term investor who wants to keep his buying and selling to a minimum. However, Musk has raised concerns about the ability to freely communicate on Twitter, tweeting about free speech and the social media platform last month, and industry analysts were skeptical of the mercurial CEO remaining on the sidelines anywhere. Since Musk announced that he has purchased a stake in Twitter, the stock has risen 35%, bringing Musk’s net worth to $980 million.

With Musk on board, it’s possible that we’ll finally get the long-awaited Edit button on Twitter, which former CEO Jack Dorsey was adamantly opposed to. Musk polled Twitter users about creating an Edit button on the same day he bought into the company.

Parag Agrawal

Parag Agrawal to replace Jack Dorsey as the new CEO for Twitter.

Twitter announced that Jack Dorsey is stepping down as CEO and that Parag Agrawal has been appointed as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. Dorsey will remain on the Board of Directors until the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders when his term will come to an end. Bret Taylor has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board, succeeding Patrick Pichette, who will remain on the Board and chair the Audit Committee. Since 2017, Agrawal has served as Chief Technology Officer at Twitter, where he has worked for more than a decade.
“Because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders, I’ve decided to leave Twitter. I have a lot of faith in Parag as Twitter’s CEO. His work has had a profound impact over the last ten years. I owe him a debt of gratitude for his talent, heart, and soul. It is now his turn to lead “Dorsey stated.
Twitter’s incoming Independent Board Chair, Bret Taylor, stated, “On behalf of the Board, I’d like to express our gratitude to Jack for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to Twitter since its inception. Jack returned to Twitter and saved the company at a critical juncture. Since then, the progress has been nothing short of amazing. Jack has left the world with something priceless, and we will continue to carry it on.”
Taylor remarked, “Parag is familiar with Twitter and recognizes its unique potential. He’s been instrumental in tackling some of our most pressing issues, such as increasing our development velocity, and I’m confident he’ll get right to work to improve execution and deliver results. The Board of Directors has complete faith in Parag.”
“I appreciate the Board’s faith in my leadership, as well as Jack’s continued mentorship, support, and partnership,” Agrawal said. “I’m excited to build on everything we’ve accomplished under Jack’s leadership and to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. We will deliver tremendous value to our customers and shareholders by continuing to improve our execution as we reshape the future of public discourse.”

Parag Agrawal
Image source: live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au

Board Updates

Besides Agrawal’s appointment, Twitter has appointed Brett Taylor as independent chair, effective immediately. He has served on the Twitter Board since 2016. Taylor succeeds Patrick Pichette, who will continue to serve as chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors. Taylor currently serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Salesforce, and has extensive experience in the technology sector, overseeing strategy and technology development.

Financial Outlook

The Company’s previously announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 outlooks, as well as its 2023 objectives, remain unchanged. On December 7, 2021, at 9:05 a.m., the Company will speak at the Barclays Global Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Conference. The previously announced virtual fireside chat with Ned Segal, CFO, will include PT. Parag. Twitter’s Investor Relations website, investor.twitterinc.com, will host a live webcast as well as a replay.

About Parag Agrawal

Since October 2017, Parag Agrawal has been the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Twitter, which he joined in 2011. As CTO, he has been in charge of the company’s technical strategy, leading efforts to increase development velocity while also advancing the state of Machine Learning throughout the organization. Prior to his appointment as CTO, Parag had risen to become Twitter’s first Distinguished Engineer for his work in revenue and consumer engineering, which included his role in re-accelerating audience growth in 2016 and 2017. He earned a doctoral degree in computer science from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.