Two years after firing 80% of Twitter employees, Elon Musk continues to boast about it

A management which offered him a position in the Government

Two years after radically transforming the landscape of Twitter, renamed X, by laying off 80% of its employees, Elon Musk continues to defend this controversial decision, presenting it as a managerial success. A recent publication on the social network, using an ironic meme on the functioning of administrations, revived the controversy around the billionaire’s management methods and the real impact of these massive layoffs.

The trigger for this new wave of criticism was an interaction between Elon Musk and a user of X. The latter emphasized, with a touch of irony, that despite the departure of 90% of its workforce, the platform continued to operate. Musk corrected the figure, specifying that it was 80% of employees, while validating the initial statement: “80%, but the argument is valid”. This statement, seen as a provocation by many, rekindles the debate on the relevance of this strategy of drastic cost reduction and on its long-term consequences for X.

Recall that at the time of its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2024, Twitter had approximately 7,500 employees. Following a series of massive layoffs, this number was abruptly reduced to around 1,500, a reduction of 6,000 people. Musk then justified these budget cuts by the need to redress the company’s financial situation, estimating that the savings made would save 4 million euros per year. He also affirmed that this drastic reduction in staff would not impact the operation of the platform.

It was, among other things, this massive wave of layoffs that offered him a position in the Government of Donald Trump. Elon Musk is not afraid to fire people and intends to apply the same method for the American administration.

A double-toned painting

Two years later, the observation is more nuanced. While X has indeed seen a significant increase in traffic, reaching records with more than 540 million users, the platform faces serious challenges. The sudden drop in advertising revenue, estimated at 59%, demonstrates the fragility of the current economic model. Additionally, the mass layoffs have had worrying consequences on crucial aspects of X’s operation, including content moderation and the fight against misinformation.

Reports indicate that key departments, such as security, have been reduced to around 20 people. This situation has led to a proliferation of automated accounts (bots) and an increase in content violating the platform’s rules. Faced with these criticisms, Musk remains unfazed and continues to tout his strategy, arguing that X works better with fewer employees.

However, many industry experts are concerned about the sustainability of this model. The drastic reduction of moderation and development teams could ultimately compromise the quality of the user experience and the security of the platform. The flight of advertisers, worried about the proliferation of problematic content, also represents a serious threat to the economic viability of X.

Beyond the figures and provocative statements from Elon Musk, the question arises of the responsibility of digital platforms in the management of information and the protection of users. The massive layoffs carried out at X raise fundamental questions about the balance between economic profitability and the need to ensure a safe and respectful online environment. The future of X, and more broadly the evolution of the social media landscape, will largely depend on the answers to these crucial questions. Elon Musk’s risky bet, two years later, therefore remains controversial and its outcome uncertain.