SUMMARY
- X, formerly known as Twitter, reclaims the handle "@music" from software developer Jeremy Vaught, sparking debates on the intrinsic value of social media handles.
- Despite the handle shift, Vaught continues to utilize X, but also explores other platforms, raising questions on user rights and intellectual property on social media.
- With X's new possession of "@music," its future plans remain unclear, as its recent post featuring musician Ed Sheeran adds to the speculation.
The social networking titan formerly known as Twitter, now X, recently took over the "@music" handle from Jeremy Vaught, an open-source software developer. The account, started by Vaught in 2007, had amassed a community of approximately half a million followers.
Rather than having the choice to maintain his beloved handle, Vaught was presented with alternate music-related handles by X. Despite his discontentment with his new handle "@musicfan," he begrudgingly accepted it, appreciating that at least his follower base was transferred to the new account.
This unexpected maneuver by X is creating a discourse on the intrinsic value of usernames on social media platforms. As per their updated terms of service in May, X can distribute, remove, limit, or suspend content or usernames, thus potentially discouraging creators from long-term commitment to the platform.
Vaught’s "@music" account was not a monetized venture, although occasionally he would review consumer tech products, particularly audio devices, leveraging his influencer status. In the past, Vaught had concerns about Twitter reclaiming his handle, but it instead created its "@twittermusic" account.
There's speculation on X's plan for the "@music" account, given their recent post featuring Ed Sheeran holding his 2014 "x" album. Vaught, a previous Tesla investor and a Cybertruck reserver, still uses X. However, he's broadened his social media presence to include Threads and Mastodon due to X's impersonal takeover of the "@music" account, after his 16 years of investment in the platform. This leads to questions on intellectual property and user rights in social media, considering X's recent actions.
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