Twitter’s algorithm may soon become open source, according to a statement made by CEO Elon Musk in response to a tweet. The move, which could occur as early as next week, would allow the public to examine the social media platform’s proprietary software, suggest changes to Twitter’s code, or even use the algorithm in their own applications.
Last year, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey expressed regret that the platform’s algorithm was not open, stating that it should have been a protocol rather than a company owned by a single entity. However, an open-source Twitter could potentially bring it into conflict with Mastodon, a decentralised social network that has become an alternative to Twitter.
Musk has previously promised to implement reforms, such as promoting free speech and introducing an “edit” button, for Twitter if he acquires it. The Twitter algorithm made headlines last week when Musk instructed his engineers to tweak it to increase the visibility of his tweets, resulting in a flood of his messages appearing on users’ feeds.
It remains uncertain whether Elon Musk, a highly active Twitter user with over 129.4 million followers, will actually make Twitter’s algorithm open source as he suggested. Known for his impulsive tweets, the world’s second-richest person purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2021. Despite Mr Musk’s previous tweets that later turned out to be a joke, his recent statement could potentially lead to a significant shift in Twitter’s direction if he follows through with the plan.
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