Twitter employees are leaving for tech rivals ahead of Elon Musk's planned takeover
We're halfway through the week, readers. Writing to you on this gloomy Wednesday in New York, I'm Avery Hartmans.
Today, we're looking at a major side-effect of the drama surrounding Elon Musk's Twitter takeover: the employee exodus. Hundreds of workers have left in 2022, about 530 in the last three months alone. They've moved on to some of Twitter's top rivals, Meta and Google chief among them.
Of course, these departures may be just what Musk is hoping for, and since he's reportedly on track to close the deal in three days, we may find out sooner than later.
There's a whole bunch of news today, including celebs' latest attempts to duck private jet trackers. Let's get to it.
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1. Meta and Google snap up Twitter employees. Amid the months-long saga between Twitter and Elon Musk, employees have been leaving in droves.
Almost 30% of workers who have left Twitter in the past three months headed to Meta and Google, new analysis of LinkedIn data shows. Other popular destinations include top social platforms like Pinterest and Snap.
Over 1,100 employees have left Twitter since Musk started buying up the company's stock in January.
"The bottom line here is that the uncertainty being generated by the fight between Elon Musk and Twitter is driving a lot of their top talent to other social media platforms," Greg Larkin from Punks & Pinstripes, the firm who conducted the analysis, told Insider.
Take a closer look at the Twitter exodus.
In other news:
2. Elon Musk pledges to close Twitter deal on time. In a video call with the banks helping to finance the deal, Musk reportedly promised his $44 billion purchase of Twitter will close on Friday. In the meantime, those banks are working on one of the last steps to close the deal. Here's the latest.
3. TikTok vs. Amazon. TikTok is starting to dabble in the US e-commerce game, testing shopping features and looking to hire fulfillment and supply-chain staff. The moves have led to speculation that TikTok wants to take on Amazon, but experts say that would be a huge mistake. This is what TikTok should do instead.
4. Elon Musk and Donald Trump try to dodge jet-tracking accounts. Billionaires, celebrities, and businesspeople have started looking for ways to evade trackers that keep tabs on their private jet travel. While there is a program that blocks certain tracking websites, even the FAA admitted that it's not a perfect solution. Here's how jet-tracking Twitter accounts are getting around it.
5. Which of Amazon's top-secret moonshot projects got the ax. Cost-cutting has come for Amazon's Grand Challenge, a moonshot lab working on stealth projects in areas like healthcare and augmented reality. An uncertain economic outlook is leading Amazon to trim expenses in areas like hiring and warehouse expansion, and now, moonshots. Find out the projects that were shuttered — and those that survived.
6. Netflix makes it easier to kick free-loaders off your account. Netflix recently added a new tool that lets users move their history and preferences to a membership they pay for. It's basically a polite way of getting moochers off your account, and it's part of a bigger effort from Netflix to crack down on password-sharing. More on that here.
7. YouTube creators share the platform's best and worst features. YouTube is constantly evolving creator tools and features to help it stand out from rivals like TikTok and Instagram, but not all those tools are beloved by users. Seven YouTubers share their favorite and least favorite features, plus the tools on their wish lists.
8. Amazon is forcing some logistics employees to relocate to Phoenix — or lose their jobs. According to emails seen by Insider, Amazon instructed as many as 200 employees at its central freight logistics hub to return to the office by January. However, many of those employees were hired as remote workers, meaning some will be forced to relocate to the hub's Phoenix offices, or face termination.
Odds and ends:
9. Testing the Tesla Model Y. Insider's resident EV expert Tim Levin has tested 14 different electric vehicles, but never a Tesla — until now. He found plenty to love about the Model Y, from its easy charging to its stylish interior, but some clear downsides, too. What it's like to drive a Model Y for the first time.
10. The top MacBook accessories. Your MacBook works great on its own, sure, but what if you could do more? These accessories, from a standout wireless mouse to a backup battery, will help maximize your laptop's functionality and your productivity. Check out our 15 top choices right this way.
What we're watching today:
Meta and Samsung are reporting earnings today
Apple's latest iPads are now available to buy in stores.
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Curated by Avery Hartmans in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email ahartmans@insider.com or tweet @averyhartmans.) Edited by Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.
Read the original article on Business Insider
