Twitter in San Francisco Sells Merchandise
In a surprising turn of events, Twitter is turning its San Francisco headquarters into a treasure trove of unique memorabilia and supplies. The online auction event, organised by Heritage Global Partners, will commence on January 17th.
The auction highlights collectible memorabilia related to Twitter's former branding and physical presence at the San Francisco headquarters. Key unique auction items include pieces of the destroyed original 560-lb Twitter blue bird sign (post-detonation fragments) and the Twitter blue bird logo (previously displayed at the HQ).
The iconic sign, which once sat atop the building, was purchased for $34,000 at a previous auction and deliberately detonated in a promotional event. Now, fragments of the destroyed sign are being sold through a sealed-bid auction, with proceeds benefiting the Center for American Entrepreneurship.
The Twitter blue bird logo itself was sold separately in an auction not long before.
As for the platform itself, concerns about content moderation bias on platforms like Twitter have been raised on Capitol Hill and by social media voices. Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, has shared a Twitter thread about internal documents, referred to as "The Twitter Files Part Deux."
In the midst of this ongoing debate about free speech online, Musk has weighed in, stating that negative/hate tweets will be max-deboosted and demonetized. Twitter uses a system of "strikes," which correspond with suspensions in more severe cases, and users are notified if their accounts have been paused.
However, Twitter is ensuring fair treatment of all users when enforcing its policies, according to its 2018 statement by Jack Dorsey. Yet, Musk has occasionally denounced the practice of restricting potentially damaging content, but seems to support it becoming normalized within the tech industry.
In a bid for transparency, Musk has announced a software update that will show users their true account status, including if they've been shadowbanned and the reason why. This move is expected to give Twitter users more control over their content.
The auction is a result of Musk's acquisition of Twitter, which led to about 50% of the company's employees being laid off. The auction items include a giant Twitter bird statue, an oversized '@' shaped planter, a projection system, an espresso maker, and an electric bike charging station.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Elon Musk announced his vote for a Republican, sparking debate among conservatives.
In other news, new flu cases have reached 13 million in the US, a separate topic from the events surrounding Twitter.
- The auction organized by Heritage Global Partners on January 17th will feature unique items from Twitter's San Francisco headquarters, such as the destroyed Twitter blue bird sign fragments and the Twitter blue bird logo.
- Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, has revealed plans for a software update that will provide users with information about their account status, including whether they've been shadowbanned and the reason for it.
- Conversations about content moderation bias on platforms like Twitter have been ongoing, with Elon Musk sharing a Twitter thread about internal documents referred to as "The Twitter Files Part Deux."
- In a seemingly unrelated development, Elon Musk expressed his political stance by announcing his vote for a Republican, sparking debate among conservatives. This announcement comes amidst significant changes in the technology industry and the lifestyle of the affluent, as Musk is selling off technological assets, such as a giant Twitter bird statue and an electric bike charging station, from Twitter's San Francisco headquarters.
