Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022

When launching the poll, he had promised to “abide” with the results of the poll. However, once the disappointing results came out the usually boisterous Musk suddenly quieted down, only replying to a couple of comments here and there.

One user suggested that Verified subscribers enjoying the infamous blue tick should be the only ones that can vote in policy related polls, with Musk answering: “Good point. Twitter will make that change.”

Twitter Blue is a paid-for subscription that allows anyone to buy a blue tick verified badge for their account.

Since then, Musk has asserted there is no successor in the wings.

“No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive. There is no successor.”

However several high level contenders offered their services.

Free speech champion Edward Snowden, who is exiled in Russia for revealing US mass surveillance secrets, humorously put in his bid.

I take payment in Bitcoin. https://t.co/wW0Qa9NxWi

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 19, 2022

Although probably made in jest, the post generated quite some interest; Snowden is viewed as a hero by free speech enthusiasts.

Many had hoped that with Musk at the helm, Twitter would regain its free speech credentials after high profile participants such as former US President Donald Trump had been banned before his tenure.

The Hunter Biden laptop censorship saga two weeks before the US elections also irked a large number of clients.

However, after addressing some of these grievances, Musk decided to ban an account that tracked the location of his private jet last week. This was followed by a mass suspension of journalists who reported on the ban on charges of doxxing his location and endangering his life.

This move prompted former sympathisers to exit the platform as they found it jarring after his alleged dedication to freedom of expression.

Do you think Elon Musk will step down?