Stock Activism Changes Platforms

The speakers discuss Elon Musk's strategy of buying a large stake in Twitter to influence platform changes, rather than building an alternative platform. This represents a new approach to social media activism through direct investment.

Key Points:

• Investment Strategy:

  • Buy significant ownership in existing platform rather than building alternative
  • Twitter stock purchase of approximately 10% stake
  • More effective than creating new platforms (like Truth Social)

• Motivation for Change:

  • Focus on freedom of speech improvements
  • Push for algorithm transparency
  • Goals include:
    • Open-sourcing the algorithm
    • Letting users choose their own algorithm
    • Making filtering processes transparent

• Implementation Method:

  • Become activist investor
  • Get board representation
  • Use voting power to influence CEO and policy decisions
  • Leverage public voice to push for desired changes

• Strategic Advantage:

  • Platform already has established user base
  • More efficient than building new social network
  • Comparable to traditional media purchases (like Bezos buying Washington Post)
  • Twitter described as "newspaper of the world"