Elon Musk vs. Apple / Twitter App Store Removal Rumors

About

Elon Musk vs. Apple, also known as Twitter App Store Removal Rumors, refers to discussions surrounding Elon Musk's claim that Apple purportedly threatened to pull Twitter from its iOS App Store. In late November 2022, Musk posted a series of tweets questioning why Apple had reportedly stopped advertising on Twitter, going on to comment on Apple's supposed monopoly on the market, accusing it of curtailing free speech and criticizing the 30 percent fee the company imposes on apps and in-app purchases sold on iOS devices, such as the iPhone.

Background

Apple's iOS App Store has a history of removing apps that don't adhere to its policies on content moderation from the app store. Apple has also pulled apps that attempt to circumvent the company's fixed revenue from in-app purchases and subscriptions. The company previously banned Parler after the January 6th Insurrection, reinstating it after the company updated its moderation policies.^[8]

Musk's Tweet About Apple Advertising

On November 28th, 2022, Elon Musk posted a tweet on his official Twitter account that read, "Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?" The post gathered over 600,000 likes in a day, as well as 16,000 quote tweets and 63,000 retweets (seen below). He also went on to tag Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, inquiring further about the matter.^[1]

Developments

On November 28th, 2022, Elon Musk continued to discuss Apple and its policies, quote tweeting @LBRYcom as evidence of Apple's perceived tendency to suppress free speech. The post gathered over 130,000 likes in a day (seen below). ^[2]

Musk also went on to quote tweet a video of a Fortnite parody video that commented on Apple's supposed market monopoly, adding that the video was "accurate." The tweet gathered over 210,000 likes in a day (seen below).^[3]

Accurate https://t.co/1PRfh67nWX

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

Shortly after, also on November 28th, Elon Musk then tweeted a Twitter poll with the question, "Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers," receiving nearly 85 percent "yes" responses.^[4] Seven minutes later, Musk posted another tweet^[5] that read, "Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why." The tweet gathered over 630,000 likes in a day (seen below, left), with Musk then quote tweeting^[6] user @WatcherGuru to say, "Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store?" This post proceeded to gather over 240,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Online Reactions

Throughout November 28th, 2022, and the following day, Elon Musk's tweets regarding Apple prompted various commentators to attempt to verify his claims, as well as react to his accusations against the tech company. For example, on November 28th, Twitter^[7] user @faizsays posted a tweet quoting his Washington Post article,^[8] gathering over 16,000 likes in a day (seen below, left). Also that day, Twitter ^[9] user @MattBinder posted a screenshot of a now-deleted Elon Musk tweet that utilized the Left Exit 12 Off Ramp meme format. The tweet gathered over 38,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Other reactions were more favorable, with user @MattWallace888^[10] posting a tweet on November 28th about Musk possibly introducing a new smartphone to compete with Apple, gathering over 20,000 likes in a day (seen below, left). On the same day, Twitter^[11] user @LayahHeilpern referenced a recent scandal involving the designer brand Balenciaga. The tweet gathered over 17,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Search Interest

External References