Staying on Twitter is now an act of Musk-takeover resistance

But it's also just a good way to promote your Substack.
By
Cecily Mauran
 on 
Tweets about not quitting Twitter against backdrop of Elon Musk holding a sink at Twitter HQ
The "Chief Twit" has entered the building. Credit: Mashable composite: Getty Images / Twitter

Back in April when Elon Musk said he was buying Twitter, an intense debate kicked off online over whether or not to leave the social media platform. At the time, many users reacted in outrage, vowing to leave the platform over the change of hands and presumed consequences.

Now that the reality of Musk buying Twitter has sunken in (quite literally, too, as Musk entered Twitter HQ yesterday carrying a sink like the one-man meme band he is), the debate over whether or not to leave Twitter has revved up again. Some have dramatically announced their departure from Twitter with the pomp and fanfare of a professional athlete announcing their retirement.

But other brave souls have chosen to sacrifice their wellbeing and stay on the platform...in protest. In the last 24 hours, the hashtag #IWasGoingToQuitTwitter has exploded. Some users posting the hashtag claim they're staying to see how the messy drama unfolds, while others are holding on so they don't lose their hard-earned following and clout.

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Here's a smattering of why people can't quit Twitter just yet.

Fighting the good fight

Some can't resist the allure of the doomscrolling

Where else would we get our memes?

Twitter is a critical marketing tool for some

The popcorn is popped and they're staying for the inevitable chaos

Someone tell this user there's life outside of social media

Then there's this pragmatic approach

Ultimately...meh.

Mashable Image
Cecily Mauran
Tech Reporter

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.


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