When users on Twitter change their avatar photo and display name – this is different from a user’s Twitter handle, the name that starts with an @ – it’s already pretty easy to trick other Twitter users into believing that an account is the official account of is a celebrity or organization. Notably, comedian Jaboukie Young-White was banned from Twitter in 2020 after calling himself CNN and tweeting a sex joke about Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a candidate for president.
In recent days, some Twitter users have started imitating Mr. Musk using this method. (This isn’t new, but Mr. Musk’s new role at Twitter seems to have inspired more copycats who are apparently eager to push the boundaries of his views on free speech.) When another Twitter user asked him about his impersonators, wrote mr. Musk it. “happens very often.” “If verified accounts violate the terms of service, e.g. spam/scam/imitation, they will be suspended, but Twitter will keep their money!” added.
Mr. Cohen will remain on Twitter for now, but he is keeping a close eye on the platform’s ecosystem.
Celebrities like Shonda Rhimes, Sara Bareilles and Toni Braxton have all announced they are leaving. “Hate speech under the veil of ‘free speech’ is unacceptable; that’s why I’m choosing to stay off Twitter because it’s no longer a safe place for myself, my sons, and other POCs,” Ms. Braxton tweeted last Friday.
“I don’t know Elon Musk and I don’t care who owns Twitter,” LeBron James tweeted Saturday. link to a report on a spike in hate speech following Mr Musk’s takeover of Twitter. “But I will say that if this is true, I hope he and his people take this very seriously because this is scary AF.” (On Monday, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of security and integrity, said, recognized a recent “increase in hateful content.”)
“There is a great exodus taking place on this platform,” actor Josh Gad tweeted last Friday. “I’m not sure if I’m staying or not. Tendency to stay, but if today is a sign of things to come, I don’t know what the point is. Freedom of speech is great. Hate speech intended to cause harm (without consequences) is not what I signed up for.” His most recent tweetposted on Friday, Elon appeared to mock Musk.
It remains to be seen whether Twitter’s much-discussed exodus will actually happen. To find out, of course, you have to check in with the rats — on Twitter.
It Happened Online is a column where we explain very specific pieces of news that have been made possible and enhanced by social media.
