This is not the first time that Apple makers are banning apps like Twitter, but why would iPhone try to ban Twitter.
To know this war between Twitter and Apple, we have to look at the tweets of Elon Musk and Apple’s official Twitter handle.
Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk is lambasting Apple for its App Store policies and tax rules. The Tesla owner accused the company of blocking Twitter from the App Store without telling him and said that Apple has also stopped advertising on the social media platform. Musk says that Apple was pressuring Twitter over content moderation demands. Following his tweet, many of Musk’s fans and followers have started a campaign on the platform in support of “free speech”.
Elon Musk Says
Although it remains unconfirmed why Apple is allegedly threatening to “block” Twitter from the App Store, the tweets and Musk’s comments indicate it may be following the social media platform’s new policy to protect “free speech”. May stem from the moderation policy. Apple is yet to confirm these claims; However, this is not the first time that the iPhone maker has threatened to remove an app from its App Store. For example, it removed Parler – a Twitter alternative – from its app store early last year after the US Capitol building riots. The app was reinstated in May 2021 after Parlor updated its content and moderation practices. Similar claims have been made by Lbry, which states that Apple asked the company to “filter certain search terms”. The company said, ‘Apple may make good products, but they have been opposing free speech for some time.’
Free Speech Platform
It’s also unclear why Apple stopped advertising on the platform, although Musk says the company doesn’t want to support free speech. Reuters reported that Apple spent an estimated $131,600 on Twitter ads between November 10 and 16, down from $220,800 between October 16 and October 22, the year Musk closed the Twitter deal. The report states that the iPhone maker was the top advertiser on Twitter in the first quarter of 2022.
Musk is also unhappy with Apple and Google charging a 30 percent fee on in-app purchases. Twitter plans to introduce Twitter Blue for $8 worldwide. That is, the company will cut 30 percent for all subscribers. Musk said, “Did you know that Apple secretly charges a 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store?”
