“Let That Sink In”: Elon Musk Shares Throwback Video of Entering X Headquarters

New Delhi — To commemorate the two-year anniversary of his high-profile acquisition of X, formerly known as Twitter, billionaire Elon Musk shared a throwback video of himself walking into the social media platform's headquarters. Captioned “Let that sink in!” the video recalls Musk’s dramatic entrance in October 2022, a moment that symbolized his $44 billion takeover and marked the start of sweeping changes at the company.

Musk’s initial entry into Twitter headquarters followed a period of contentious negotiations and unexpected decisions. The acquisition journey began in January 2022, with Musk gradually increasing his stake in Twitter, eventually becoming the largest shareholder by April. The platform’s board accepted his unsolicited purchase offer of $44 billion later that month, although Musk attempted to exit the agreement in July over concerns about spambots. By October, however, he had reversed course, closing the deal on October 28, 2022, and assuming the role of CEO.

The "Chief Twit" Era and Controversial Reforms

On assuming control, Musk dubbed himself “Chief Twit” and famously updated his Twitter bio and location to reflect the platform’s headquarters. Early in his tenure, he removed top executives, including CEO Parag Agrawal and legal head Vijaya Gadde, in a decisive move to reassert the platform’s direction. Musk quickly introduced an array of changes, including algorithm transparency, new features, and a focus on free speech. He also initiated extensive layoffs, halving the company’s workforce, which stirred mixed reactions among users and industry experts.

In April 2023, Musk took another step toward his vision for the platform by merging Twitter into a new entity called X Corp. He revealed plans to evolve X into an “everything app” akin to a digital ecosystem, with Twitter as a central feature. Some users and industry watchers welcomed Musk's ambitious plans, while others expressed concerns about potential impacts on content moderation and the rise of misinformation.

Mixed Reactions and Policy Reversals

Musk’s tenure has been polarizing. While some celebrate his bold ideas and emphasis on transparency, others have raised alarms over controversial decisions, such as the reinstatement of previously banned accounts, including that of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk's push to remove high-profile accounts and promote free speech has led to concerns about the platform’s direction under his ownership.

Reflecting on the video post and his tenure, Musk’s influence on X continues to reshape the platform in unexpected ways, sparking discussions about the future of social media.