Apple and Twitter Engage in Public Spat Amid Advertising Woes and App Store Concerns

Elon Musk and Apple Inc. have found themselves at odds over advertising, content moderation, and the role of the app store, sparking a public feud between the two tech giants. The tensions simmered to the surface after Musk revealed that Apple had cut back its advertising on Twitter and even threatened to withhold the social network from its app store. This development comes as a growing number of major advertisers, including General Mills Inc. and Pfizer Inc., have paused their ads on Twitter since Musk's acquisition of the company for $44 billion last month.

Key Takeaways:

• Apple has reportedly stopped advertising on Twitter, with Musk tweeting about the move and questioning Apple's stance on free speech in America.
• A number of large companies, including General Mills Inc. and Pfizer Inc., have paused their ads on Twitter since Musk's acquisition, leading to a "massive drop" in revenue.
• Musk has cut thousands of jobs at Twitter, raising concerns that the platform won't be able to combat hate speech and misinformation.
• A new approach to verifying accounts on Twitter has opened the door to trolls impersonating major brands, including Musk himself.
• Phil Schiller, the longtime Apple executive who oversees the app store, deleted his Twitter account after Musk reinstated the account of former president Donald Trump.
• Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but users continue to see Apple advertising in their Twitter feeds.
• Musk has previously tweeted that if Twitter is removed from Apple and Google's app stores, he will make an alternative phone that can work with the platform.
• The world's richest person has said his mission at Twitter is maximizing free speech, but his approach has raised concerns about content moderation and the role of the app store.

Statistics:

• Apple's commission on in-app purchases is 30 per cent, which Musk claims is overly high.
• Twitter's revenue dropped significantly after many major advertisers paused their ads on the platform.
• Musk has over 119 million followers on his personal Twitter account, where he frequently criticizes perceived adversaries and the mainstream media.
• The lawsuit between Epic Games Inc. and Apple over in-app purchases has been ongoing for years, with Epic Games Inc. eventually taking the path of sidestepping Apple's fees.
• Parler, a social network, was removed from the Apple and Google app stores due to inadequate content moderation, but was later restored after it addressed the concerns.

Sources:

• Elon Musk's Twitter account
• Bloomberg
• Apple Inc.
• Twitter Inc.
• General Mills Inc.
• Pfizer Inc.