In an article published today, New York Times took aim at the one of the largest social networks bringing international attention to how Twitter is struggling to deal with its increasing role as a public media and effectively managing its network.
According to the New York Times article, Twitter has become a haven for propagandists, bots and other manipulators and it should be bolder in how it manages its network.
NY Times journalist, Farhad Manjoo, heavily criticised Twitter for tolerating “the vilest, most hateful and antisocial behavior”. “It’s time for Twitter to scrap one of its founding principles: the idea that it is an anything-goes paradise, where anyone who signs up for a voice on its platform is immediately and automatically given equal footing with everyone else,” he wrote.
For years, Twitter has struggled to attract new users who feel the social network is overly confusing, or a hotbed for harassment. Many simply see no reason to tweet. The election of a tweeter-in-chief offered a glimmer of hope for a turnaround.
Twitter’s shortcomings are particularly clear when compared to its biggest rival, Facebook. The social network is less plagued by reports of harassment and offers clear incentives to join. It’s a place to track friends, family and, increasingly, the news.
But struggling with flat user growth and instead of cleaning up its network, Twitter has doubled down on encouraging existing advertisers to spend more as it tries to shape its stagnating business.
Although Twitter’s user base has stopped growing, the company recently launched a test for advertisers, charging $99 a month to “amplify” their tweets without having to create ads or manage campaigns.
