Apple’s threat to remove Twitter from its AppStore, has sparked a reaction from Elon Musk who has called out the company to explain the reason for its proposed plan.
In a recent tweet, Musk said, “Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its AppStore, but won’t tell us why.
However, since Musk took over as Twitter’s CEO, Apple’s App Store has approved five updates to the Twitter app. This includes the addition of new features to Twitter Blue earlier this month.
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Musk had previously stated that if Twitter is removed from Apple’s and Google’s app stores, he will make an alternative phone that can work with the platform.
After he had earlier alleged that Apple had paused its ads on the platform, he went ahead to ask if the company hated free speech in America.
“Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America”, he tweeted.
Meanwhile, despite Musk’s allegation against Apple regarding the suspension of its ad on the platform, Twitter users disclosed that they could still see Apple’s ads in their feeds.
Apple hasn’t responded to Musk’s claims, also Musk hasn’t shown any data to back up his claim. Phil Schiller, Apple’s long-time executive who oversees the app store, deleted his Twitter account after Musk reinstated the account of former President Trump, who was removed from the platform in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Meanwhile, analysts disclose that a decision by Apple to suspend its Twitter ads would pose a major challenge for the social network, as reports reveal that Apple is one of the top advertisers on the platform.
In the first quarter of 2022, it spent $48 million, accounting for 4% of Twitter’s total revenue for the period.
Musk had also disclosed that Apple has made demands on Twitter’s content moderation. He posted a yes-no survey, saying, “Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers.”
It is a known fact that Apple has strict rules for its app store, as it limits objectionable content which includes discriminatory content related to religion, race, and sexual orientation. It also restricts overly realistic violence and pornographic material.
Asides from Apple’s pullback on its ads, a number of large companies have also paused their ads on Twitter since Musk took over the company. The exodus included General Mills Inc. and Pfizer Inc., which Musk acknowledged that the defections led to a “massive drop” in revenue.
After his acquisition of Twitter, Musk has been carrying out a serious revamp on the micro-blogging platform which has sparked several controversies.