Elon Musk Says Twitter Won’t ‘Become a Free-for-All Hellscape’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a file photo in 2019. Aly Song/Reuters

Elon Musk wrote in a note to advertisers on Thursday that Twitter cannot be a “free-for-all hellscape” ahead of a Friday deadline to complete the purchase of the social media firm.

“Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences,” Musk wrote on Twitter in a message, titled, “Dear Twitter Advertisers.” The tech billionaire did not elaborate.

There were reports, including one from the Wall Street Journal, indicating that some Twitter advertisers expressed worry in private to Musk and Twitter that the social media platform would have little-to-no content moderation. In previous months, Musk sharply criticized Twitter’s content moderation policies and accused it of having a left-wing bias.

“The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence,” Musk also wrote Wednesday. “There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far right wing and far left wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.”

Kieley Taylor, global head of partnerships at GroupM—an advertising agency—told the WSJ that some brands would stop advertising on the platform if former President Donald Trump’s account is reinstated, for example. Trump was banned in January 2021 after months of him voicing concerns about irregularities during the 2020 election, with Twitter moderators claiming that his speech on Jan. 6 was linked to the breach at the U.S. Capitol.

Earlier this year, Musk indicated that he wanted Trump back on Twitter, although Trump has since started his own social media website, Truth Social. Trump has publicly said that he would not rejoin Twitter even if he is allowed back on the platform, telling Fox News several months ago that using Truth Social is “much better than being on Twitter.”

While during a June meeting with Twitter staff, Musk said that he believes people should be able to “say pretty outrageous things within the law” but shouldn’t be amplified.

But on Thursday, Musk expressed confidence in the company’s advertising, saying that “advertising, when done right, can delight, entertain and inform you.”

“Fundamentally, Twitter aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world that strengthens your brand and grows your enterprise,” Musk said.

The message comes as Musk, who is expected to close his deal by Friday evening, updated his bio to “Chief Twit” on Wednesday. He also posted a video of him entering Twitter’s headquarters carrying what appears to be a bathroom sink.

He attempted to back out of the $44 billion agreement with the company in July after criticizing Twitter for a lack of transparency over fake accounts. However, he reversed that decision after the company sued him in Delaware.