CBS News was mocked online Friday evening after announcing that the network would pause their use of Twitter “out of an abundance of caution” as the social media platform goes through an intense period of change following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company.
The announcement comes as thousands of employees have either been forced out or chosen to resign instead of continue at Musk’s new “extremely hardcore” Twitter.
CBS News reporter Jonathan Vigliotti said on air, “In light of the uncertainty around Twitter and out of an abundance of caution, CBS News is pausing its activity on the social media site as it continues to monitor the platform.”
CBS News and its owned and operated stations are “pausing” activity on Twitter; blaming “uncertainty” on the platform. pic.twitter.com/Pv1gEQjQJH
— Jim Lokay (@LokayFOX5) November 19, 2022
The network was widely mocked online following the announcement.
Actor James Woods tweeted, “You’ll be missed. You and the bubonic plaque.”
“Were you as concerned when many journalists were completely shut down for reporting a true story?” former journalist and professional baseball player Adam Housley tweeted. “No..no you weren’t. This is typical self gratification and not a national or local news story. What a waste of 90 seconds…or whatever time you give stories now.”
YouTuber Tim Pool tweeted, “The tantrum is epic.”
“Silly decision,” journalist Yashar Ali tweeted.
“Once news orgs stop using Twitter most journos/media folk will too,” reporter Saman Shad tweeted. “I mostly have used this platform for work – to find out what people are taking about.”
“Pure idiocy from CBS News. Don’t whine then about why people don’t trust you when they can’t find you in the 21st century’s public square,” NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck tweeted. “CBS News quitting Twitter because they think @ElonMusk will allow hackers or something into their accounts is so weak. This is so stupid my head hurts.”
“CBS’s newscasts are firmly in third place behind ABC and NBC — @CBSMornings with Democratic donor Gayle King posing as a journalist and lead anchor plus @CBSEveningNews can’t commit to an anchor or format,” Houck added. “This won’t help them at all.”
“These terms are acceptable,” political commentator Stephen Miller mocked. “Twitter does not belong to CBS news and they are going to learn this in a very hard way.”