The future of the Twitter Files took a grim turn on Friday, as independent journalist Matt Taibbi announced that he will be ditching Elon Musk’s platform after the Chief Twit began blocking Substack links, preventing users from liking or retweeting posts that link to Substack articles.
“Of all things: I learned earlier today that Substack links were being blocked on this platform. When I asked why, I was told it’s a dispute over the new Substack Notes platform,” Taibbi tweeted.
“Since sharing links to my articles is a primary reason I come to this platform, I was alarmed and asked what was going on,” he continued. “I was given the option of posting articles on Twitter instead.”
“I’m obviously staying at Substack,” Taibbi stated, “and will be moving to Substack Notes next week.”
Since sharing links to my articles is a primary reason I come to this platform, I was alarmed and asked what was going on. I was given the option of posting articles on Twitter instead.
I’m obviously staying at Substack, and will be moving to Substack Notes next week.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) April 7, 2023
The man who exposed to the world the dirty deeds that took place behind the Twitter scenes then shared the news with his Racket News subscribers.
“It turns out Twitter is upset about the new Substack Notes feature, which they see as a hostile rival,” Taibbi wrote. “When I asked how I was supposed to market my work, I was given the option of posting my articles on Twitter instead of Substack.”
“Not much suspense there; I’m staying at Substack,” he said. “You’ve all been great to me, as has the management of this company.”
The future of the Twitter Files, he admitted, will likely suffer.
“Beginning early next week I’ll be using the new Substack Notes feature (to which you’ll all have access) instead of Twitter, a decision that apparently will come with a price as far as any future Twitter Files reports are concerned,” he explained. “It was absolutely worth it and I’ll always be grateful to those who gave me the chance to work on that story, but man is this a crazy planet.”
Speaking with Fox News Digital (FND), Taibbi said he wouldn’t be closing his Twitter account, but will “have to find another medium.”
He did, he confirmed, speak directly to Musk about the issue.
“If I can’t share article links,” Taibbi told FND, “it doesn’t work professionally.”
Back on Twitter, Substack is striking back.
“We’re investigating reports that Twitter embeds and authentication no longer work on Substack,” they tweeted on Thursday. “We are actively trying to resolve this and will share updates as additional information becomes available.”
We're investigating reports that Twitter embeds and authentication no longer work on Substack. We are actively trying to resolve this and will share updates as additional information becomes available.
— Substack (@SubstackInc) April 6, 2023
On Friday, they released a statement from Substack’s founders: “Any platform that benefits from writers’ and creators’ work but doesn’t give them control over their relationships will inevitably wonder how to respond to the platforms that do.”
A statement from our founders:
Any platform that benefits from writers’ and creators’ work but doesn’t give them control over their relationships will inevitably wonder how to respond to the platforms that do.
— Substack (@SubstackInc) April 7, 2023
Substack co-founder and CEO Chris Best said Musk’s move was “bigger than Twitter.”
“This morning Twitter started throttling links to our platform,” he tweeted on Friday.
“We hope this action was made in error and is only temporary, because writers deserve the freedom to share whatever links they want,” he continued. “But this is bigger than Twitter. It shows why it’s so important for writers to own their relationship with their audience.”
“The subscription network model puts power back in the hands of writers and readers,” he stated. “This is crucial for free speech, and it is crucial for creating an economic engine that can support great work.”
“We may be a small upstart, but the combined reach of the writers here––both in number, and in cultural impact––is already tremendous,” Best wrote. “If enough of us choose to play this new game, it will work, and incumbent platforms won’t be able to stop it.”
We hope this action was made in error and is only temporary, because writers deserve the freedom to share whatever links they want.
But this is bigger than Twitter. It shows why it's so important for writers to own their relationship with their audience.
— Chris Best (@cjgbest) April 7, 2023
We may be a small upstart, but the combined reach of the writers here––both in number, and in cultural impact––is already tremendous. If enough of us choose to play this new game, it will work, and incumbent platforms won't be able to stop it.
— Chris Best (@cjgbest) April 7, 2023
Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie echoed the sentiment.
“This is how the internet changes for the better,” McKenzie stated.
Any platform that benefits from writers’ work but that doesn’t give them control over their relationships will inevitably wonder how to respond to the platforms that do.
— Hamish McKenzie (@hamishmckenzie) April 7, 2023
This is how the internet changes for the better.
Substack may be a small upstart, but the combined power of the writers on it is already tremendous.
If enough of us choose to play this new game, it will work, and there’s nothing anyone will be able to do to stop it.
— Hamish McKenzie (@hamishmckenzie) April 7, 2023
For average Twitter users, Musk’s censorship of Substack articles is hitting a sour note.
When he hauled that kitchen sink into Twitter headquarters, Musk was describing himself as a “free speech absolutist,” and he has repeatedly discussed the importance of “citizen journalism.”
“Citizen journalism is vital to the future of civilization,” he tweeted in January.
Citizen journalism is vital to the future of civilization
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2023
Now, when media outlets such as Fox News Digital email Musk for a comment, they receive in return a poop emoji.
Trust us. We checked.
In response to Taibbi’s Racket News post, one user expressed her dismay at the news.
“So disappointed in Twitter,” the user wrote. “I thought Elon was a big supporter of Substack. Terrible news, but so grateful for the work you and others did on the Twitter files.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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