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Twitter reactivates its gray “Official” badge for select brands and outlets, after a wave of impersonations, hoaxing, and other chaos by purchased blue checks — Okay, so Twitter broke its own verification system by making the blue check — previously a signal that the account …
Discussion:
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Discussion:
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: @MKBHD I just killed it
Geoffrey A. Fowler / Washington Post: We got Twitter ‘verified’ in minutes posing as a comedian and a senator
Jack Lawrence / @jackmlawrence: It took me less than 25 minutes to set up a fake anonymous Apple ID using a VPN and disposable email, attach a masked debit card to it (with the address being Twitter's HQ), and get a verified account for a prominent figure. Just think what a nation-state or bad actor could do...
@esthercrawford: @nelson The official label is still going out as part of the @TwitterBlue launch — we are just focusing on government and commercial entities to begin with. What you saw him mention was the fact that we're not focusing on giving individuals the “Official” label right now.
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months. We will keep what works & change what doesn't.
@esthercrawford: @TwitterBlue Not all previously verified accounts will get the “Official” label and the label is not available for purchase. Accounts that will receive it include government accounts, commercial companies, business partners, major media outlets, publishers and some public figures.
Alex Goldman / @agoldmund: This fake twitter account is impersonating twitter corporate with a newly purchased check mark and gotten 34k rts. This is going great so far. How long before having a check mark will just be a hallmark of scamming? https://twitter.com/...
Marques Brownlee / @mkbhd: Update: It's now gone https://twitter.com/...
Farhad Manjoo / New York Times: Elon Musk Has No Idea What He's Doing at Twitter
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: Some real “my passion is graphic design” vibes for this checkmark rollout https://twitter.com/...
Esther Crawford / @esthercrawford: There are no sacred cows in product at Twitter anymore. Elon is willing to try lots of things — many will fail, some will succeed. The goal is to find the right mix of successful changes to ensure the long-term health and growth of the business. https://twitter.com/...
Ed Markey / @senmarkey: Last night, I was easily impersonated and the account was quickly verified. Safeguards like blue checks let users be smart, critical consumers of news and information in Twitter's global town square. Truth can't be put on sale for $8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@taylorlorenz: Now Twitter's own product people are debunking Elon's tweet 👇🏻, saying they're reversing course and the “official” label WILL be applied to some users, but they accidentally applied it too broadly? What a total and absolute mess https://twitter.com/...
John Squires / @freddyinspace: The “blue check” was never the status symbol many thought it was. It was only ever about verifying identities and making sure that it was harder for people to impersonate other people. That has all been swiftly undone, as now anyone can be “verified” as anyone else's identity. https://twitter.com/...
Fortesa Latifi / Insider: I used Twitter's $8 ‘verification’ to impersonate a famous YouTuber and trick their fans. It only took 25 minutes to set up and showed me how dangerous this new feature will be.
Ted Litchfield / PC Gamer: After two days of April Fools', you can't pay $8 to impersonate Nintendo on Twitter anymore (at least for now)
Christopher Brito / CBS News: Twitter brings back “official” label after verified impersonator accounts run wild
Robert Wright / @robertwrighter: So what exactly is the difference between this and “lords and peasants”? Fewer lords? But Twitter is still the almighty power that chooses the lords, right? https://twitter.com/...
Dell Cameron / Gizmodo: Elon Is Re-Verifying Neo-Nazis and Selling Blue Checks to Transphobes and QAnoners
Caleb Ecarma / Vanity Fair: Elon Musk, Surprising Absolutely No One, Suspends Twitter Blue After Just 2 Days
Geoffrey A. Fowler / @geoffreyfowler: Would the real @EdMarkey & @blaireerskine please stand up? In a @washingtonpost test, I got imposter versions of the senator & comedian “verified” blue check marks (w/ their permission). All it took was $8 and a spare phone. Twitter never challenged it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
John Sakellariadis / Politico: ‘Serious risk of breach’ at Musk's Twitter
Kylie Cheung / Jezebel: Elon Musk's Hellish Twitter Takeover Enables Wild Impersonations, Descends Into Chaos
Hend Amry / @libyaliberty: They added the official check, rescinded it, and hours later brought it back. Probably because advertising dollars were about to disappear. According to this article, verification will be limited to governments and commercial enterprises. Who knows if individuals ever will. https://twitter.com/...
Austen Goslin / Polygon: Twitter reinstates ‘Official’ label after Mario flips the bird
@iambrandontv: So the “official” verified label is still coming so even if you pay for a check mark, you aren't “official”? What is the point 😭😭😭😭 https://twitter.com/...
David Mack / @davidmackau: literally just YESTERDAY he said he was getting rid of these (hrs after they were launched!) bc blue checks would be the “great leveller”. a day later, they're back. he truly has no idea what he's doing https://twitter.com/...
David Mack / @davidmackau: you guys, you cannot make this up but twitter has REVERSED COURSE on elon reversing course on the “official ticks.” they're back!!! https://www.theverge.com/...
David Roth / @david_j_roth: Elegant design. This is what so many of us hoped for from Elon. My only note: it might be nice to add a third check mark that just kind of moves around the screen and if you click on the x near it to close it out, a mysterious .exe file starts downloading. https://twitter.com/...
Grace Kay / Insider: Look past the Musk mayhem, and you'll see the beginnings of his master plan for Twitter taking shape
Farhad Manjoo / @fmanjoo: Lol. He killed Official https://twitter.com/...
Alex Howard / @digiphile: But per the product manager who seems to be currently accountable for @TwitterBlue, @ElonMusk is only killing “Official” for individuals — other accounts may still get it. Not is a great way to retain trust with @whitehouse officials, which should launch https://whitehouse.mastodon.gov/ https://twitter.com/...
@mattbc: It's unfortunate that musk fired twitter's top legal minds, because omfg are they begging to be sued https://twitter.com/...
@inihelene: To be verified you had to send in your ID/passport. Now anyone can literally just impersonate you for $8 https://twitter.com/...
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: More than 82,000 people are listening to Elon live on spaces now. Also - a ton of official brand accounts that are certainly curious why they should keep spending money on Twitter... https://twitter.com/...
@coreypein: Update: Under no circumstances should you board the Mars rockets. Those already underway will be issued partial rebate vouchers on arrival. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__: State level disinfo campaigns: now anyone can do it! https://twitter.com/...
Katie Mack / @astrokatie: Going great. Definitely a stable, reliable company advertisers should have faith in. https://twitter.com/...
Craig Mod / @craigmod: As if this needed to be said explicitly: it turns out rich people don't have some magical ability to instantly solve problems that smart, less rich people have spent a lot of time working on https://twitter.com/...
John Aravosis / @aravosis: The erratic behavior is just embarrassing. I realize that people like @mcuban like this “do, then ask permission later” behavior, but it comes across more as “ready, fire, aim.” https://twitter.com/...
Jon Cryer / @mrjoncryer: I was “official” for about 18 minutes! It was exhilarating. https://twitter.com/...
Sewell Chan / @sewellchan: This may seem innocuous ... until this account, or one like it, foments sectarian violence. Selling blue check marks without ID verification will worsen mis/dis-information and other social ills that @elonmusk doesn't either know or care about. https://twitter.com/...
Dave Earley / @earleyedition: It's so weird watching this great, world changing product turn into the clown show in real time https://twitter.com/...
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: Imagine trying to do product development in this kind of environment https://twitter.com/...
Leah McElrath / @leahmcelrath: THIS: “It's not impersonations of high-profile accounts that are the problem. It's the person impersonating a minor online celebrity, an obscure government functionary, or perhaps their ex. That's where the harm will be done and no one will notice or care until it's...too late” 🧵 https://twitter.com/...
Kris Goldsmith / @krisgoldsmith85: Accounts listening in to Elon try to convince advertisers that Twitter is safe include a few relevant to mil/vet community (just in the order I see them): USAA USMC Recruiting US Fleet Forces https://twitter.com/...
Natasha Lomas / TechCrunch: Musk flip-flops on Twitter verification — brings back (some) ‘Official’ badges (in some parts of the world)
Barbara Ortutay / Associated Press: Twitter's ‘official’ gray checks are back again—after being introduced and cancelled once this week
Brendan Morrow / The Week: Twitter Blue checkmark impersonators include Mario giving the finger on ‘Nintendo’ account
Jordan Bondurant / Barrett Media: Max Kellerman: Elon Musk ‘Increasingly Unhinged’ After Twitter Verification Debacle
Mariella Moon / Engadget: Twitter starts doling out ‘official’ checkmarks - again
Camden Carter / Media Matters for America: Right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists are spreading hate on Twitter with their newly purchased blue check marks
Philosophy bear: Why I don't think Musk's blue checkmark plan will work and how we can help kill Twitter faster
Cass Marshall / Polygon: Twitter's new wave of Blue checks is sowing chaos
Jennifer Wright / New York Post: Elon Musk's $8 blue checkmark verification fee makes Twitter worthless
Elizabeth Nolan Brown / Reason: Impersonators Are Already Running Amok Under New Twitter Rules
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally: Elon Musk has ‘killed’ Twitter's official labels... or has he?
Ross A. Lincoln / The Wrap: Twitter Gives Blue Checks to Fake Tesla Account, Fake Politicians and Real Nazis on Twitter Blue Day 2
Sarah Reynolds / Accidental Philosophy: Q: Just how easy to cancel does Elon Musk want you to be? A: so easy your entire online existence becomes deletable in one click
RELATED:


Sources: Twitter's head of ad sales Robin Wheeler resigned, but Musk convinced her to stay; head of Trust & Safety Yoel Roth confirmed his resignation — Elon Musk, in his first address to Twitter Inc. employees since purchasing the company for $44 billion, said that bankruptcy …
Discussion:
Ad Age, @robinw, Platformer, New York Times, Washington Post, @alexeheath, The Verge, NBC News, @kurtwagner8, Reuters, Insider, CNN, New York Post, @caseynewton, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, @sarahfrier, Axios, CBS News, The Register, MediaPost, @andrewe, @libbycwatson, @jbouie, @caseynewton, Lily's News View, @moorehn, @tomcoates, @davidcorndc, @kurtwagner8, @btaplatt, @caseynewton, @eric_seufert, @evacide, @adrianweckler, The Week, @blackamazon, @pkafka, CNBC, Stereogum, Breitbart, Financial Times, Gizmodo, The Information and Vanity Fair, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Ad Age: Source: Twitter's head of ad sales Robin Wheeler and head of Trust & Safety Yoel Roth resigned on November 10
Casey Newton / Platformer: Inside the Twitter meltdown
Alex Heath / @alexeheath: This was sent to all Twitter staff this morning by the legal leader on its privacy team. Pretty remarkable. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Collins / NBC News: There's an exodus of Twitter executives, including the head of trust and safety, as Musk's chaotic reign continues
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: Plot twist! I'm told while Wheeler did indeed resign earlier today, Elon convinced her to stay. https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Jackson / Insider: An engineering manager at Twitter reportedly threw up after being told he had to fire hundreds of people
Oliver Darcy / CNN: Elon Musk's Twitter faces its ‘Titanic’ moment as executives and advertisers flee while trolls run rampant
Patrick Reilly / New York Post: Twitter manager vomited after Elon Musk ordered him to fire employees: report
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: One tidbit: Musk managed the transition so poorly, we're told, that his team didn't even have access to the @twitter account until yesterday https://www.platformer.news/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Johana Bhuiyan / The Guardian: Exodus continues at Twitter as Elon Musk hints at possible bankruptcy
Sarah Frier / @sarahfrier: Elon Musk tells Twitter staff bankruptcy is possible, sources say. Yoel Roth, the head of trust and safety, and Robin Wheeler, who was leading that big Twitter spaces call with advertisers, are both now out, sources add. Also, no more free food. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Sara Fischer / Axios: Twitter loses two more top executives
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost: Twitter Top Ad Exec Wheeler Quits, Then Returns, But Trust/Safety Director Roth Is Gone
Andrew Escobar / @andrewe: Wheeler resigned, but Musk convinced her to stay, according to both @CaseyNewton and Bloomberg's @KurtWagner8. 🍿 https://twitter.com/...
Libby Watson / @libbycwatson: it would be very funny if twitter created a service allowing blue check scammers to receive money from the people they're scamming, directly on the platform https://www.platformer.news/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@jbouie: genuinely breathtaking the speed with which elon musk has sent twitter into what might be a death spiral https://www.platformer.news/ ...
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: From @ZoeSchiffer and I, an account of one of the most chaotic days in Twitter's history. We're making it free for everyone to read because we think the whole story needs to be told. https://www.platformer.news/ ...
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: On bankruptcy: It would not be the end of the company. Many companies that have been through a leveraged buyout (basically what happened to Twitter) end up in bankruptcy and keep functioning and come through it. What it would do, however, is allow Elon to renegotiate the debt. https://twitter.com/...
Tom Coates / @tomcoates: This is an absolutely extraordinary statement by someone with significant influence and oversight in the privacy team at Twitter. It states outright that Musk's moves are dangerous to dissidents and human rights activists and legally to Twitter's own engineers. https://twitter.com/...
David Corn / @davidcorndc: When do the Saudis bring in Jared Kushner to help @elonmusk run Twitter? https://twitter.com/...
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: Thursday morning: Here are the three key leaders that have emerged at Twitter under Musk https://www.bloomberg.com/... Thursday afternoon: Two of those three leaders have resigned https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Brian Platt / @btaplatt: Staff who have departed Twitter today: - chief information security officer - chief privacy officer - chief compliance officer - global head of safety - global head of ad sales https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: @eric_seufert might not even have been a full day
Eva / @evacide: Just in case @LeaKissner's departure from Twitter was not a big enough red flag, @yoyoel has left. I don't think I actually know anyone who works for Twitter anymore.
Adrian Weckler / @adrianweckler: This is just mad. The two executive hosts — Yoel Roth and Robin Wheeler — of last night's Twitter Spaces with Musk are now reportedly gone. https://twitter.com/...
Rafi Schwartz / The Week: Report: Elon Musk admits 'bankruptcy isn't out of the question' for Twitter
@blackamazon: And like again no mention of the fact that the chaos etc started with an all out attack on Black folks shown by a single word But let's wonder why we miss things https://twitter.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: The two Twitter execs Musk brought on calls last week and yesterday to placate marketers are reportedly out. What is plan b? https://www.vox.com/... https://twitter.com/...
CNBC: Read Elon Musk's first email to all Twitter employees: Remote work over, company needs subscriptions to survive downturn
Chris DeVille / Stereogum: The Strokes' Julian Casablancas Calls Out Elon Musk Amid Twitter Turmoil: “What A Great Symbol For 2020s Pieces Of Shit”
Allum Bokhari / Breitbart: Censor-Happy Leftist Yoel Roth Leaves Elon Musk's Twitter
Dell Cameron / Gizmodo: Twitter Could Go Bankrupt, Elon Says
Kaya Yurieff / The Information: Musk's Twitter Wants to Take On YouTube; The Snapchat Creator Who Posts 100 Times Per Day

Internal note: Twitter temporarily disabled signing up for Twitter Blue to “help address impersonation issues” affecting brands, politicians, and celebrities — Twitter accounts impersonating celebrities and politicians spread on the site after the company rolled out paid check marks.
Discussion:
@zoeschiffer, @lillypad, The Verge, @joshuaphilll, CNBC, Fortune, Bloomberg, Gizmodo, WHDH-TV, The Verge, @clintw, New York Times, @wickdchiq, Wall Street Journal, Slate, The Hill, Al Jazeera, Financial Times, The Week, Forbes, @joshuaphilll, @parkermolloy, @hankgreen, The Wrap, @hardin, @frances_coppola, @jesus, Engadget, @ggreenwald, @michaeldweiss, @ggreenwald, @zombiecleo, @mikerugnetta, Insider, Ad Age, @themaxburns, @penamerica, New York Post, @janecaseyauthor, @willoremus, @mikerugnetta, @kenklippenstein, AppleInsider, Forbes, NBC News and Rolling Stone, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Zoë Schiffer / @zoeschiffer: NEW: Twitter has suspended the launch of Twitter Blue and is actively trying to stop people from subscribing “to help address impersonation issues,” per an internal note. 1/
@lillypad: We apologize to those who have been served a misleading message from a fake Lilly account. Our official Twitter account is @LillyPad.
James Vincent / The Verge: Twitter Blue signups disappear a day after fakes and mayhem
@joshuaphilll: The verified brand situation is getting out of control. Quick thread of twitter blue brands, and brands who might be pissed off at Elon right about now. https://twitter.com/...
Sofia Pitt / CNBC: Twitter pauses paid verifications after users abuse service to impersonate brands and people
Steve Mollman / Fortune: No, insulin is not free: Eli Lilly is the latest high-profile casualty of Elon Musk's Twitter verification mess
@clintw: This is a *massive* liability risk, and Elon and everyone who somehow still works for him are just incredible idiots for not accounting for it. I've changed flights via twitter before. I've gotten cable and internet fixed this way. These morons just torpedoed that for lulz. https://twitter.com/...
Erica Ifill / @wickdchiq: Here's a thread of all the impersonations of real brands on Twitter and I got say the impersonators are doing God's work 😆🙃 https://twitter.com/...
Alyssa Lukpat / Wall Street Journal: Twitter Stops Giving Out Blue Check Marks After Impersonators Take to the Platform
Shirin Ali / Slate: The Parody Gold Created by Elon Musk's Twitter Blue
Hannah Murphy / Financial Times: Imposter tweets prompt pause of Twitter Blue rollout
Brendan Morrow / The Week: Twitter reportedly pauses sign-ups for verification checkmark after ‘impersonation issues’
Brian Bushard / Forbes: Kari Lake, Lockheed Martin And Eli Lilly—Here Are The Companies, Celebrities And Politicians Impersonated In Twitter Blue Chaos
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: Remember how Musk tried to rush this out the door for launch *the day before the midterms* even though people kept saying, “Hey, this will cause chaos and lead to widespread impersonation”? Good times. https://twitter.com/...
Hank Green / @hankgreen: Well, I was half right. https://twitter.com/...
Eileen AJ Connelly / The Wrap: Twitter Suspends ‘Blue,’ Reinstates ‘Official’ Label as Fake Accounts Surge
Brandon Hardin / @hardin: elon basically forcing brands to tweet things like “we're sorry you ever thought insulin could be free,” incredible scenes https://twitter.com/...
Finance Cassandra / @frances_coppola: Stay safe, people. Click on the blue tick to find out whether it is legit or a “paid-for” version. If it's paid-for, and the account is offering customer support services or financial products, it's a scam. https://twitter.com/...
Jesus Christ / @jesus: Why the assumption I am fake? https://twitter.com/...
Mariella Moon / Engadget: Twitter reportedly suspended Blue subscription sign-ups ‘to help address impersonation issues’
Glenn Greenwald / @ggreenwald: Blue-checks for anyone is good for democratizing Twitter, but the solution is obvious: 1) require proof of identity and 2) name changes result its loss. Anonymity is crucial for the internet - not everyone can speak under their names - but blue checks can be for verified ID. https://twitter.com/...
Glenn Greenwald / @ggreenwald: (And as for the ID process: just outsource it to a well-regarded and secure third party to minimize the risk of hacking/doxing. No need for Twitter to keep or harvest that data. If you require basic proof of identity, you democratize blue checks without the impersonation problem)
Zombie Cleo / @zombiecleo: Blue checks for all he said. But what about all the people impersonating others and companies we asked It won't be a problem he said whilst firing the entire moderation team. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Rugnetta / @mikerugnetta: If the end of twitter is people spending $8 to masquerade as brands calling it like it is, I am 100% for it https://twitter.com/...
Pete Syme / Insider: Twitter verification trolls targeted the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, falsely announcing that ‘insulin is free’ before claiming it would cost $400-per-vial
Max Burns / @themaxburns: Earlier today I saw fake-but-verified airline customer support accounts asking Twitter users who were reaching out to *legit* airlines to DM them for help. This is asking for trouble once the scammers start stealing ticket/financial info.
@penamerica: Twitter pauses paid verifications after users abuse service to impersonate brands and people The quick suspension of the service suggests that, at least currently, CEO @elonmusk's big plan to generate new revenue from users isn't working as expected. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Thomas Barrabi / New York Post: ‘Twitter Blue’ launch suspended as ‘verified’ account impersonators surge: report
Jane Casey / @janecaseyauthor: Be very wary on here now. (Also *sigh* this is why Twitter had all those people in charge of security and verification.) https://twitter.com/...
Will Oremus / @willoremus: Amid all the dunking and exaggerations, this is a sober, balanced news article by @rachelerman about the current state of Twitter. A good reminder that when you strip away the snark and look only at the facts, it turns out the situation is still objectively hilarious and absurd. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Rugnetta / @mikerugnetta: Wild how everyone who actually uses this site saw this coming a week ago, and yet! https://twitter.com/...
Ken Klippenstein / @kenklippenstein: Lmao https://twitter.com/...
William Gallagher / AppleInsider: Twitter Blue is dead, ‘official’ checkmarks resurrected
Marisa Dellatto / Forbes: Eli Lilly Clarifies It's Not Offering Free Insulin After Tweet From Fake Verified Account—As Chaos Unfolds On Twitter
Jason Abbruzzese / NBC News: Twitter changes new paid verification rules as impersonators spread


In his first email to staff, Elon Musk says he wants subscriptions to account for half of Twitter's revenue — New Twitter Inc. owner Elon Musk emailed his workers for the first time late Wednesday to prepare them for “difficult times ahead” and ban remote work unless he personally approved it.
Discussion:
New York Times, @zoeschiffer, @parismartineau, @drewharwell, Mediaite, @davidmackau, @jonquilynhill, The Information, @hayskali, @hayskali, @pkafka, CNBC, The Drum, Associated Press, @cbsnews, TMZ.com, ZDNet, Fortune, WorkLife, Forbes, The Guardian, Insider, The Verge, Dice Insights, @hunteryharris, TechCrunch, @eoinhiggins_, @celebrityhottub, @briantylercohen, @tvietor08, @sawyermerritt, @molly_knight, @jamesrbuk, @oneunderscore__, @pkafka, @girlsreallyrule, @washingtonpost, @dellcam, @likaluca, @imani_barbarin, @reckless, @ruthbenghiat, NBC4 Washington, @saramorrison, @kurtwagner8, Protocol, Deadline and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Zoë Schiffer / @zoeschiffer: Wow. Elon Musk just told Twitter employees he's not sure how much run rate the company has and “bankruptcy isn't out of the question.”
Paris Martineau / @parismartineau: an actual quote from twitter's all hands today: https://twitter.com/...
Drew Harwell / @drewharwell: Spokesperson for pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly says they're in communication with Twitter to address the fake-but-verified Eli Lilly tweet that has been up for three hours and has 1,500 retweets and 10,000 likes https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Michael Luciano / Mediaite: What Elon Musk Is Doing Right at Twitter
David Mack / @davidmackau: we are witnessing one of the most spectacular corporate disasters of living memory. hulu and netflix will make competing miniseries about this. brendan fraser will win an emmy for playing elon in the better one https://www.nytimes.com/...
@jonquilynhill: “The Verge reached out to Musk for comment. Twitter no longer has a communications department.” https://www.theverge.com/...
Kali Hays / @hayskali: And, Elon continued “I am spending time with our sales & partnerships teams to ensure that Twitter continues to be appealing to advertisers...” Yesterday Twitter saw dozens of celebrities, political figures and major brand accts impersonated through the new Twitter Blue sub
Kali Hays / @hayskali: So Musk sent his first Twitter email at 230 am, told his remaining ~4k staff they all must work in-office now full-time; the overall economic picture ‘is dire;’ that Twitter ‘will not survive the upcoming economic downturn’ unless the business becomes 50% subscription based...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: “Musk told workers in the email that he wants to see subscriptions account for half of Twitter's revenue.” Just going to keep saying it: This site is no longer going to be free. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Sutcliffe / The Drum: Elon Musk and Twitter: a timeline of chaos
Matt O'Brien / Associated Press: As Musk warns of Twitter's potential collapse and a pivotal content moderation exec departs, the FTC voices ‘deep concern’
@cbsnews: Mondelez International's CEO told Reuters that the food giant has stopped advertising on Twitter because of a spike in hate speech on the social media platform following Elon Musk's takeover. https://www.cbsnews.com/...
Tristan Bove / Fortune: Vomiting into trash cans, crying at the Halloween party and ghost employees: Elon Musk's first days at Twitter as he attempts to put the company ‘on a healthy path’
Derek Baine / Forbes: Twitter Facing Dire Problems On Multiple Fronts
JR Hennessy / The Guardian: New Twitter boss Elon Musk is the dog that caught the car - with all the journos in the back seat
Beatrice Nolan / Insider: Elon Musk tells Twitter employees to return to the office or their resignations will be accepted
Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge: Elon Musk learns the hard way that being a Twitter troll is way more fun than being a mod
Nick Kolakowski / Dice Insights: Elon Musk Ends Twitter Remote-Work Policy
Hunter Harris / @hunteryharris: if twitter goes out at least it goes out in the most dramatic way possible, totally befitting the drama of twitter https://twitter.com/...
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch: Have you tried turning it off and on again, Elon?
@eoinhiggins_: Honestly I've never seen anything like this—Musk's entire brand for over a decade was “smart business guy” and he has completely upended that. Probably permanently. https://twitter.com/...
Brian Tyler Cohen / @briantylercohen: The $8 system to “eLiMiNaTe BoTs aNd ScAmMeRs” instead created the lowest barrier to entry humanly possible for bots and scammers to thrive. https://twitter.com/...
Tommy Vietor / @tvietor08: Why on earth would anyone want to keep working for this prick? Stock options are going to be worthless. He has no respect for the people or product. Truly a masterclass in how to demoralize a workforce. https://twitter.com/...
Sawyer Merritt / @sawyermerritt: NEWS: Elon Musk told Twitter employees today that he had recently sold $TSLA stock to “save” Twitter - NYT He said Twitter still remains over-staffed & needed to be more “hard core. Twitter was running a negative cash flow of several billion dollars. 1/2 https://www.nytimes.com/...
Molly Knight / @molly_knight: Sorry, Eli Lilly. Nobody is available to take your call because Twitter fired its entire comms department. Insulin is free now. https://twitter.com/...
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: Again: He paid $44,000,000,000 for this company *two weeks ago*. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__: It's going great. https://twitter.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: Reminder that bankruptcy doesn't mean Twitter shuts down. It means Elon renegotiates his $1b/year debt committment and tells his pals who helped him buy this thing that you can't win them all. https://twitter.com/...
Amee Vanderpool / @girlsreallyrule: Several top privacy and security executives resigned from Twitter on Thursday, citing fears over the risks from Elon Musk's leadership, in a stunning exodus that prompted federal regulators to warn they might step in. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@washingtonpost: Several top security and privacy executives resigned from Twitter on Thursday, citing the rapid rollout of new features without proper security reviews and Elon Musk's order that employees return to the office. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Dell Cameron / @dellcam: I continue to think the biggest privacy issue here is Musk's push to collect payment information that can be used to link pseudonymous accounts & years of their data w/ people's real names. This is valuable for the kinds of “sentiment analysis” political data firms engage in. https://twitter.com/...
@imani_barbarin: “The FTC reached a settlement with Twitter in May after the company was caught using personal user info to target ads. If Twitter doesn't comply with that agreement, the FTC can issue fines reaching into the billions of dollars, according to the lawyer's note to employees.” https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: Updates to @alexeheath's story on Twitter's privacy execs all quitting — new verification product pushed out without usual privacy reviews, and Twitter owes the FTC a compliance statement per previous consent order today (ht @Riana_Crypto for that one) https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ruth Ben-Ghiat / @ruthbenghiat: It is not and never was about $. It is about ideology and transforming the premier political communications platform in ways that suit authoritarian actors and investors (Saudis, Musk and allies) https://twitter.com/...
Matt O'brien / NBC4 Washington: Elon Musk Warns Twitter Employees of ‘Difficult Times Ahead’ and Ends Remote Work
@saramorrison: If the other half of your revenue is from ads, and it's like $16 because the CEO tweeted rolling crying laughing emojis about advertisers being impersonated, then he should be able to accomplish this lofty goal. https://twitter.com/...
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: Whether or not you think remote work is a good idea, this flexible work policy existed for multiple years now. There are likely people who relocated their entire family & are now being told to show up in person on like 8 hours notice. I expect a lot more people will be leaving. https://twitter.com/...
Lizzy Lawrence / Protocol: Musk ends remote work at Twitter


Internal memo: Disney plans to institute a targeted hiring freeze except for “the most critical, business-driving positions” and make “some staff reductions” — KEY POINTS — Disney plans to freeze hiring and cut some jobs, according to an internal memo.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Deadline, Ad Age, Variety, Insider, Wall Street Journal, The Verge, Los Angeles Times, @sherman4949, @jeffmacke, @variety, @sherman4949, The Desk, @azalben, The Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire
Discussion:
Deadline: Disney Plans Layoffs, “Rigorous Review” Of Spending & Hiring Freeze; “Tough & Uncomfortable Decisions” Coming, CEO Bob Chapek Tells Staff
Lakshmi Varanasi / Insider: Disney is reportedly planning to pause hiring and make some job cuts, joining other media titans like Netflix and Warner Bros
Robbie Whelan / Wall Street Journal: Disney Details Plans for Cost Cuts, Layoffs and Hiring Freeze in Memo
Mitchell Clark / The Verge: Disney is preparing to cut jobs, according to leaked memo from CEO
Ryan Faughnder / Los Angeles Times: Disney's Bob Chapek orders hiring freeze, cost cuts to make Disney+ profitable
Alex Sherman / @sherman4949: Here's the job losses part of Bob Chapek's memo to division leaders. “As we work through this evaluation process, we will look at every avenue of operations and labor to find savings, and we do anticipate some staff reductions as part of this review.” https://www.cnbc.com/...
Jeff Macke / @jeffmacke: Remarkable in a bad way for $DIS not to discuss this on their conference call TWO DAYS ago. When Disney announces a new CEO it'll be time to buy shares. https://www.cnbc.com/...
@variety: Disney is set to begin layoffs. CEO Bob Chapek wrote: “We are going to have to make tough and uncomfortable decisions. But that is just what leadership requires, and I thank you in advance for stepping up during this important time.” https://variety.com/...
Alex Sherman / @sherman4949: Scoop: Full memo now included here. Disney is telling execs to quash all business travel except for essential trips and to do meetings virtually when possible. The company has also set up a cost structure task force... https://twitter.com/...
Matthew Keys / The Desk: Disney plans hiring freeze, layoffs across some divisions
Alex Zalben / @azalben: This cannot be the same man who just the other day gave a heartfelt declaration of “we are so fortunate to have an abundance of content from our creative engines paired with wealth of knowledge and insight into what resonates with our fans.” https://twitter.com/...


NBCUniversal Ad and Partnerships Chair Linda Yaccarino says “there is no surrogate for Twitter” and Elon Musk can learn advertising: “I think we can teach him” — Major media exec says ‘there is no surrogate for Twitter’ and she is not ready to bet against its new owner
Discussion:
The Verge, Deadline, Bloomberg, @loupas, @garyblack00, @shannonzkiller, @garyblack00, @mcproulx, @joshtpm, @sarahnadav, @nicholasvinocur, @garettsloane and @garyblack00
Discussion:
Alex Heath / The Verge: Elon Musk is putting Twitter at risk of billions in fines, warns company lawyer
Dade Hayes / Deadline: Elon Musk's Twitter Tenure Deserves A Chance, NBCUniversal Sales Chief Linda Yaccarino Says: “You've Got To Give The Guy A Minute”
Lou Paskalis / @loupas: Great perspective from friend, @lindayacc: There's no surrogate for @Twitter Twitter is the biggest content distribution partner for @NBCUniversal @elonmusk understands safety & transparency; you've got to give the guy a minute. I think we can teach him https://adage.com/...
Gary Black / @garyblack00: Advertising trade press clearly split on @elonmusk actions at $TWTR. NBC Universal's Linda Yaccarino, who says she has been in talks with him in recent weeks, is one of his biggest supporters. $tsla https://adage.com/...
Shannon / @shannonzkiller: @LouPas ... You can't teach someone who is openly and repeatedly abusive when you try to reason with them. He doesn't want to listen. He just wants to threaten and bully people into his way.
Gary Black / @garyblack00: $TWTR is a very different animal than $TSLA and SpaceX where the assets (advertisers and users) go down the elevators every day. Ad execs tell me Elon was genuinely surprised by the speed at which TWTR advertisers abandoned the platform, given adjacency concerns and the noise.
Mike Proulx / @mcproulx: NBCU's @lindayacc tells @adage that @elonmusk “understands safety and transparency...but you've got to give the guy a minute.” She added that she “wouldn't bet against him.” https://adage.com/...
Josh Marshall / @joshtpm: Finally Elmo gets some support! https://adage.com/...
Sarah Nadav / @sarahnadav: TL:DR- Lawyer reminds everybody they have unlimited PTO, explains how they are all fucked and Elon is putting everyone at risk, ends by telling everyone he'll be gone, taking PTO. CLASSIC https://twitter.com/...
Nicholas Vinocur / @nicholasvinocur: Let's not forget that even if Twitter has comparatively fewer users in Europe, it is subject to GDPR which, among other things, requires privacy officers and, you know, basic guardrails for data. Investigation + enforcement powers are weak, but fines can in theory be astronomical https://twitter.com/...
Garett Sloane / @garettsloane: Here is an “elite” media opinion about Elon Musk. It's about as elite as it gets, and rooting for Twitter. https://adage.com/...
RELATED:


Memo: Omnicom, one of the world's biggest ad firms, recommends its clients like Apple, PepsiCo, and others “pause activity on Twitter”, citing brand safety risk — Omnicom, one of the world's biggest ad firms, representing brands like McDonald's, Apple, and Pepsico …
Discussion:
@miarsato, @richburroughs, @mmasnick, @cryborg, @dbinkowski, AppleInsider, Breitbart, Quartz, @pkafka, @danlesac, @film_girl, CNN, Bloomberg, New Republic, Gizmodo and Observer, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Mia Sato / @miarsato: New: One of the world's biggest ad agencies just recommended its brand clients pause ad campaigns on Twitter. Omnicom Media Group sent a memo around today citing the recent chaos on the bird app — 89% of Twitter revenue was from ads last year. https://www.theverge.com/...
@richburroughs: I've already told folks where I work that I don't think we should be advertising here. I do still see some tech companies doing it. I think it's not a great look. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: Soon Elon's going to be begging people to take Twitter off his hands for $8. https://twitter.com/...
@cryborg: “The risk to our clients' brand safety has risen sharply to a level most would find unacceptable” https://twitter.com/...
David Binkowski / @dbinkowski: Not surprising. Ogilvy, Publicis and WPP will follow suit. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Wuerthele / AppleInsider: Apple's ad agency recommends a stop to Twitter campaigns
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: The thing about the ad business is that it's a service business, and it's hard to run a service business if there's no one around to provide the service. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Dan Le Rat / @danlesac: That's Apple, Unilever, McDonald's, Johnson & Johnson potentially pausing ads... https://twitter.com/...
@film_girl: Lol. This is a big deal and I bet Elon doesn't even known what Omnicom is. https://twitter.com/...
Brian Fung / CNN: A day of chaos brings Twitter closer to the brink
Parmy Olson / Bloomberg: We May Be Watching Twitter Implode in Real Time
Matt Ford / New Republic: Well, Twitter Looks Doomed!
Matt Novak / Gizmodo: Twitter Brings Back ‘Official’ Verified Badge Because Elon Musk Has No Idea What He's Doing


The New York Times hires Axios national political reporter Jonathan Swan for its politics team, describing him as “a gifted, dogged, and high-impact reporter” — The political reporter is joining the Politics team at The Times. Read more in this note from Politics Editor David Halbfinger …
Discussion:
@oliverdarcy, Axios, @jonathanvswan, @danprimack, @sam_baker, @jmart, @emptywheel, The Wrap, @petersagal, @sophiacai99, Mediaite, @sarahamatthews1, @timalberta, @cliffordlevy, @froomkin, @ericschultz, @sarafischer, @mikiebarb, @jamisonfoser, @dylanbyers, @peterbakernyt, @maggienyt, @jakesherman, The Hill and Deadline
Discussion:
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: Huge get for NYT: @jonathanvswan is joining the paper's politics team https://www.nytco.com/...
Sara Fischer / Axios: Axios' Jonathan Swan heading to NYT
Jonathan Swan / @jonathanvswan: Axios has been family to me for the past six years. It's been the best place I have ever worked and have bottomless gratitude to Mike, Jim and Roy for giving me so many opportunities. It's bittersweet for sure- but thrilled to join the NYT next year, a paper I've admired forever. https://twitter.com/...
Dan Primack / @danprimack: Sad that @jonathanvswan is leaving us at @axios, but happy for the opportunity he'll have at the @nytimes. For those who only know the work & the memes: A true mensch, the sort of colleague anyone would be lucky to have. And a great champion for young reporters. Good luck Swan!
Sam Baker / @sam_baker: Everybody knows Swan is one of the best reporters. He is also an exceptional colleague—open, accessible, generous with credit. For a star reporter to set that kind of no-ego example made a *huge* difference at a young company. It's been a privilege. https://www.nytco.com/...
Jonathan Martin / @jmart: What a great get. Gonna be fun to see @jonathanvswan at the Times https://twitter.com/...
@emptywheel: Swan does more than just Trump, but it is INSANE that a news organization is boasting about adding a third Trump whisperer four days after he was exposed as a 3-time loser. https://www.nytco.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Peter Sagal / @petersagal: This is unfair to the competition and the DOJ anti-trust division should step in. https://twitter.com/...
Sophia Cai / @sophiacai99: He is as great of a colleague as he is a reporter. Sad to see you go, @jonathanvswan https://www.nytco.com/...
Sarah Matthews / @sarahamatthews1: A Haberman + Swan byline would've been my absolute nightmare while I was working for the Trump White House. What an incredible combo for the NYT. Excited to see what's to come from them. https://twitter.com/...
Tim Alberta / @timalberta: One of the fairest, humblest, hardest working people I've ever met. A model for everyone in media. https://twitter.com/...
Cliff Levy / @cliffordlevy: Huge for The New York Times: @jonathanvswan, an outstanding political reporter, is joining us. https://www.nytco.com/...
@froomkin: .@jonathanvswan once asked his sources in the Trump White House why they leaked to him: https://www.axios.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Eric Schultz / @ericschultz: brilliant move. Major coup for the NYT and good for journalism at large to see a talented reporter get a bigger platform. yet part of me wishes @jonathanvswan was moving to a network since he seems to be one of the best live interviewers in town. https://twitter.com/...
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: .@jonathanvswan is one of the most kind, gracious and generous people I know. He also happens to be one of the best reporters of our generation. Congrats to @nytimes on a great get and to Swan on an unbelievable run at @axios. https://www.axios.com/...
Michael Barbaro / @mikiebarb: Thrilled to soon call this fella a colleague. https://twitter.com/...
Jamison Foser / @jamisonfoser: soon the NYT will have one Trump whisperer for every Trump voter https://twitter.com/...
Dylan Byers / @dylanbyers: This is an incredibly tasteful way for @axios to handle what is undeniably a very big loss for their organization: https://www.axios.com/... @jonathanvswan
Peter Baker / @peterbakernyt: Welcome @jonathanvswan to Team Times! Very excited he will be bringing his relentless hustle and magical scoop powers to our all-star squad of political reporters. https://www.nytco.com/...
Maggie Haberman / @maggienyt: Welcome, mate https://www.nytco.com/...
Jake Sherman / @jakesherman: what a massive get. great for @jonathanvswan and the NYT https://twitter.com/...
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill: Jonathan Swan to leave Axios, join The New York Times
Ted Johnson / Deadline: Jonathan Swan To Depart Axios For The New York Times


A Connecticut judge orders Alex Jones to pay $473M in punitive damages on top of the nearly $1B in defamation claims that a jury awarded to Sandy Hook parents — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay $473 million in punitive damages on top of a nearly $1 billion verdict handed down last month …
Discussion:
Associated Press, @scalzi, @georgehahn, @katiephang, Bloomberg, Deadline and New York Post
Discussion:
George Hahn / @georgehahn: This just ain't Big Al's year. And it's delicious. https://apnews.com/...
Katie S. Phang / @katiephang: NEW: Alex Jones ordered to pay an extra $473 million for “promoting false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook school massacre, bringing the total judgment against him to a staggering $1.44 billion.” https://apnews.com/...
Laurel Brubaker Calkins / Bloomberg: Alex Jones's Assets Are Frozen by Judge in Sandy Hook Case
Ted Johnson / Deadline: Alex Jones Ordered To Pay Another $473 Million In Damages To Sandy Hook Families, Bringing Total Near $1.5 Billion - Update
Priscilla DeGregory / New York Post: Alex Jones must pay $473M more to Sandy Hook families

Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post's former media critic, launches Media Maelstrom, a Substack newsletter about “what's wrong with the press and how to fix it” — Coming soon This is Media Maelstrom, a newsletter about what's wrong with the press and how to fix it.
Discussion:
@sulliview, @mollyjongfast, @hamishmckenzie, @mathewi, @heerjeet, @markjacob16, @parkermolloy, @sulliview and The B-Roll
Discussion:
Margaret Sullivan / @sulliview: Folks, with things here just a *tad* unstable, I've created a substack called Media Maelstrom. Not sure what I'll do with it but you can sign up for free. https://margaretsullivan.substack.com/
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: I will be signing up for this https://twitter.com/...
Hamish McKenzie / @hamishmckenzie: Wise move, Margaret Sullivan https://twitter.com/...
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: Instant subscribe https://twitter.com/...
Mark Jacob / @markjacob16: Important voice on media today. I just signed up. https://twitter.com/...
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: Literally my wish come true. @SubstackInc https://on.substack.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Margaret Sullivan / @sulliview: Thank you for the encouragement! https://twitter.com/...


How Amazon's shopping experience, saturated with ads, impacts sellers and consumers, as its 2022 ad revenue surpassed revenue from Prime and other subscriptions — Inside the under-the-radar business that makes more money than Amazon Prime. — Type any random product into Amazon's search bar and look closely at the results.
Discussion:
@glenngabe, @eric_seufert, @shiraovide, @joshsternberg, @thegrok, @retailgeek, Beyond Search and Next in Marketing, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Glenn Gabe / @glenngabe: More: “Type any random product into Amazon's search bar and look closely at the results. If you don't scroll, every listing in front of you will most likely be an ad, signaled by a small label with the word “Sponsored.” And it's just the beginning.” https://www.vox.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Eric Seufert / @eric_seufert: Everything is an ad network https://www.vox.com/...
Shira Ovide / @shiraovide: “Amazon has essentially given up on effectively surfacing the best products to customers in an organic fashion, and has outsourced that key function to advertisers.” —@DelRey https://www.vox.com/...
@joshsternberg: I am so glad @DelRey tapped into his editorial roots to write about Amazons transition to an advertising giant https://www.vox.com/...
Bryan Eisenberg / @thegrok: When you aggregate consumer intent, with customer experience, agility and continuous optimization you can keep finding ways to generate revenue. Amazon's ad revenue is now growing faster than Google and Meta. https://www.vox.com/...
Jason Goldberg / @retailgeek: Basically everything on Amazon has become an ad https://www.vox.com/... by @DelRey of @Recode with my comments https://twitter.com/...
Stephen E. Arnold / Beyond Search: Amazon: The Bezos Bulldozer Shoves Customers and Crushes Competitors


An interview with HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey on her mandate to grow Warner Bros. Discovery IP, canceling originals, and figuring out ratings — Sarah Aubrey definitely did not sign up for this. — In early 2015, when she ended her producing partnership with filmmaker Peter Berg …
Discussion:
BJ Colangelo / SlashFilm: And Just Like That... Will Be More Joyful In Season 2 — It was shocking enough …
Andy Behbakht / ScreenRant: HBO Max Executive Offers Update On J.J. Abrams Partnership