Twitter Users Give the App A Hilarious — And Slightly Panicked — Send-Off As It Nears Possible Death
Photo Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On Thursday, a majority of Twitter employees announced their departure with Elon Musk as new CEO, sending the app into a frenzy.
We might be in the last days of Twitter. Less than one month after billionaire CEO and owner Elon Musk acquired the social network, a reported 75% of employees have opted to flee Musk’s “Twitter 2.0” system. Problems arose on Thursday night (November 17) after Musk, who fired 7,500 staff members after his $44 billion acquisition, emailed employees an ultimatum. Musk demanded that they commit to a “hardcore” work environment or leave by 5 PM, to which many chose the latter.
“People don’t want to sacrifice their mental health and family lives to make the richest man in the world richer,” one recently laid off employee told CNN.
“I don’t want to stick around to build a product that’s being poisoned from the inside and out,” another added.
The “mass exodus” was announced on the social media platform from former employees, including members of the engineering staff who maintain the platform’s core system to keep it functional. Following the employees’ departure, the headquarters declared that it would be closed until Monday, and workers’ badge access would also be cut.
I was laid off from Twitter this afternoon. I was in charge of managing badge access to Twitter offices.
Elon just called me and asked if I could come back to help them regain access to HQ as they shut off all badges and accidentally locked themselves out.
— Alex Cohen (@anothercohen) November 18, 2022
Users – notably members of Black Twitter – went out with a bang, and humorously mourned the “death” of their beloved app with memes and declarations of heading to other platforms like MySpace, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Me looking back at my three followers one last time since Twitter about to shut down #RIPTwitter #TwitterDown
pic.twitter.com/1MITBwhlZB— JC (@JuanCafecito) November 18, 2022
Me and the homies trying to figure out how Pinterest work pic.twitter.com/Gtgmw0DvEy
— Kofie (@Kofie) November 18, 2022
Myspace should hire all the Twitter people leaving and get that site goin off again. I already know who my top five would be and I know my profile song. I’m ready
— Miles Morales (@theafro_samurai) November 10, 2022
currently googling how to argue on pinterest since twitter shutting down pic.twitter.com/VrsWqLbLGm
— 5hahem aka Dr. Durag (@shaTIRED) November 18, 2022
Read more reactions to the possible demise of the app below. For those who are genuinely worried that the platform is nearing its end, you can download or backup your tweets (however, as The Washington Post has noted, there have been reports that the files have been delayed or not being sent to users at all this past week), as well as let followers know where else they can reach you on other social media platforms.
if and when twitter goes down i just want to extend my best wishes to all of you, even the haters and losers
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) November 18, 2022
Me & the other 2009 Twitter users busting into the Twitter headquarters tonight pic.twitter.com/pPR4sl2GYA
— bria celest (@55mmbae) November 18, 2022
YOU HAD ONE DAMN TWITTER JOB, ELON.
— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) November 18, 2022
although we’ve come … to the end of the road … pic.twitter.com/YqBt4UyCjW
— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) November 18, 2022
if twitter goes down, here’s where you can find me:
in my home enjoying my life
— SungWon Cho (@ProZD) November 11, 2022
It’s been a pleasure tweeting with y’all for the past 13 years. #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/XsLuMNi59A
— toby is the scranton strangler (@OhHELLNawl) November 18, 2022