Musk is now in charge of Twitter and has ousted its top three executives. PA Wire
Musk is now in charge of Twitter and has ousted its top three executives. PA Wire
Musk is now in charge of Twitter and has ousted its top three executives. PA Wire
Musk is now in charge of Twitter and has ousted its top three executives. PA Wire

Twitter reacts to Elon Musk's acquisition: 'Love him, hate him, but you can’t ignore him'


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

It was announced on Thursday that Elon Musk has completed a $44 billion acquisition of Twitter after tumultuous months of back and forth from both sides that first began in April.

Musk, who is the world’s richest man, is also active on the social media platform and has 110.5 million followers. However, his tweets can at times be divisive. Given his vocal criticism of Twitter's moderation policies in the past, the acquisition has left some users on the platform with mixed feelings about the new deal.

After the agreement to purchase Twitter was completed, Musk tweeted “the bird is freed” with more than 500,000 users liking the post.

Since the announcement has been made, Twitter users have taken the platform to share their thoughts on the news.

Journalist Aaron Rupar tweeted as a joke that in protest of Musk’s takeover, he was "pledging to make my tweets worse".

Screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer tweeted that she was staying... for now.

User Leah McElrath suggested for those who were upset about the news to make use of Twitter's blocking option when necessary, but to also check out other similar platforms.

Stand-up comic W Kamau Bell discussed what it means to quit Twitter now that Musk owns it. He suggested that those who don't take the threat seriously should look back to when other social media platforms eventually died out. "There are some natural-born quitters on here," he tweeted.

Actor Billy Baldwin questioned whether or not Musk could actually garner free speech on the platform.

User Nivrutti Yadav thanked Musk, claiming the acquisition was a "huge step for free speech".

User Aditya Singh Chauhan tweeted about the video of Musk entering Twitter headquarters with a sink and wrote: “love him, hate him, but you can’t ignore him".

User Tressie McMillan Cottom, a university professor, wrote that although she wasn't a fan of the news, it felt as though there has been a bit of an overreaction.

"It will be different but not the end of days," she tweeted.

And finally, a couple of users cracked jokes about what Musk owning Twitter really means.

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
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  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

Updated: October 28, 2022, 8:16 AM