Gary Lineker Criticizes Twitter's Evolution Under Musk's Ownership

Gary Lineker, the renowned sports broadcaster and former England footballer, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the social media platform Twitter, now known as X, following its acquisition by tech magnate Elon Musk. The 63-year-old Match of the Day presenter, known for his prolific career both on and off the field, has significantly altered his social media habits due to what he perceives as an increasingly unpleasant online environment.

In a recent interview, Lineker, who holds England's record for goals in FIFA World Cup finals with 10 goals, shared his thoughts on the platform's evolution:

"I don't really post my thoughts now because I think it has become not a very pleasurable experience. There was a time you could have little chats with people on there and a bit of banter but now it is impossible because before I could have chats with people I either followed or were blue-tick people but now everyone's got a blue tick so that doesn't work anymore."

Lineker's comments reflect a growing concern among users about the platform's changing dynamics. The former footballer, who was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003, particularly criticized the new blue tick system, which was originally introduced in 2009 but has undergone significant changes under Musk's leadership.

The sports broadcaster's reduced engagement on the platform comes in the wake of his controversial suspension from Match of the Day, the world's longest-running football television program, following his criticism of the UK government's immigration policy on the platform. This incident highlighted the complex relationship between public figures, social media, and political expression.

Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 marked one of the largest leveraged buyouts in history. The tech billionaire, known for co-founding PayPal and leading innovative companies like SpaceX and Tesla, promised to transform Twitter into a bastion of free speech. However, his leadership has been met with mixed reactions from users and industry observers alike.

Since the takeover, Musk has implemented several changes to the platform, including replacing the iconic blue bird logo with an "X" and introducing a subscription service for verified accounts. These modifications have sparked debate about the future direction of the social media giant, which had never turned an annual profit since its founding in 2006 until Musk's intervention.

Lineker, who has been the face of Walker's crisps advertisements since 1995, summed up his current view of the platform, stating, "I have become a bit bored with it. It is a very unpleasant world there and Musk is clearly a very odd bloke."

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the experiences of high-profile users like Lineker shed light on the broader implications of platform ownership changes and content moderation policies in the digital age.