In a series of tweets responding to users, Twitter owner Elon Musk mentioned several upcoming features the platform plans to implement.
Following former New York Times editor Bari Weiss’ report revealing Twitter had shadow-banned users via “visibility filter” by tagging profiles with “trends blacklist,” “search blacklist,” and “do not amplify” algorithms, Musk announced the platform was working to show users “true account status” in what appears to be a continued bid for transparency.
“Twitter is working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadow-banned, the reason why and how to appeal,” said Musk.
Twitter is working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022
Other high profile accounts, including Libs of TikTok, were flagged with a “do not take action on user” banner instructing Twitter executives to consult with Site Integrity Policy, Policy Escalation Support (SIP-PES), according to Weiss.
Musk responded to a user who suggested there was confusion deciphering if decline in engagement was due to tweet quality or shadow-banning.
“Tweets will show view count in a few weeks, just like videos do,” said Musk, further proposing algorithm transparency on the platform.
“Twitter is much more alive than people think.”
Tweets will show view count in a few weeks, just like videos do. Twitter is much more alive than people think.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022
“Great. Much better metric,” said former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey who has previously expressed support for Musk’s efforts to move the platform away from previous censorship policies.
Another user suggested Musk purchase subscription newsletter website Substack and cross reference information between the newsletter platform and Twitter.
“Corporate media would then have specializ[ation] on reporting government leaks, from ‘people familiar with the matter,'” said the user.
“I’m open to the idea.”
Early Friday morning Musk announced the platform would soon “free the name space” of 1.5 billion accounts … with no tweets [and] no log in for years.”
These are obvious account deletions with no tweets & no log in for years
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022
Dorsey has been criticized for Twitter’s previous decisions on censorship including preventing users from sharing the New York Post’s article discussing the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop along with the previous permanent ban of former President Donald Trump’s account.
However, following fellow journalist Matt Taibbi’s initial Twitter Files report, it is unclear to what extent Dorsey played a role in determining the platform’s censorship policies as the journalist suggested former head of legal, policy and trust Vijaya Gadde reportedly played a larger role in the company than previously believed.
Musk appeared to defend Dorsey by suggesting the former CEO “has a pure heart.”
“Controversial decisions were often made without getting Jack’s approval and he was unaware of systemic bias,” Musk said. “The inmates were running the asylum. Jack has a pure heart imo.”
On Wednesday, Dorsey encouraged Musk to release the entire Twitter Files “without filter.”
“If the goal is transparency to build trust, why not just release everything without filter and let people judge for themselves?” Dorsey said. “Including all discussions around current and future actions? Make everything public now.”
