We can democratize Twitter

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If Silicon Valley can disrupt whole industries, why not innovate with company ownership, too?

With chaotic stock prices and politics threatening Twitter, we want to save "the people's news network" as a vital public utility. That's why we propose Twitter study ways to build user loyalty and increase shareholder value, through broad-based ownership and accountability similar to a co-op.

Support our proposal for democratic ownership

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Read the Proposal

Our proposal went to a vote at Twitter's annual meeting on May 22, 2017. We hoped for at least 3% of shareholders voting in favor to resubmit a stronger proposal in the future, and we got 4.9% saying Yes!

Say Yes to a study on democratic ownership

Tell Twitter to study an exit to broad-based ownership and accountability

Shareholders supporting our proposal

Co-op Allies

Support our proposal to #BuyTwitter

Sign the letter

Want to help us win?

Tweet about #BuyTwitter

Featured press

"It makes perfect sense"

"a dream that is worthy of consideration"

"Jack, if you're listening, change the narrative from a struggling social network to the voice of the people."

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FAQ

You might be wondering...

1. Can't users buy Twitter stock already?

We mean "buy" as in, buy-out or acquisition.

2. How could an exit to democratic ownership work?

It's complicated. That's why we propose Twitter do due diligence with a full study.

3. Okay! But won't democratic ownership lower stock prices?

We see many ways a more cooperative model would increase Twitter's value.

4. What about trolls?

We LOL at trolls.

5. I'm in. How can I help?

Shareholders should vote YES on Proposal 4.

Co-ops and organizations can sign our letter.

Users and everyone, please sign our petition!

Read full FAQ

Why Democratize?

1. Democratic ownership has a proven record of profitability and sustainability.

2. A co-op or hybrid would benefit Twitter users and shareholders.

3. Studying models for user ownership will show how current shareholders stand to gain.

4. To evaluate opportunities, Twitter can engage a range of experts in democratic ownership.

5. This proposal emerged from organizing among Twitter shareholders and users.

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Ways this could work

Scenario 1: Leveraged multi-stakeholder buyout

Private equity leverages a transition on behalf of a trust that represents multiple Twitter stakeholder groups.

Scenario 2: Partial restructuring

Users gain some control and benefit in the company while shares continue to trade on public markets.

Scenario 3: Media consortium

A diverse set of media companies would have a common interest in maintaining Twitter as an open, sustainable platform.

Scenario 4: Crypto-token issuance

A bold experiment in blockchain-based finance and governance adds a new layer to the existing Twitter ownership stack.

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Get involved

Thanks to people like you, we've come a long way!

Last Fall, reports came out that Twitter was seeking a buyer. People in the #platformcoop movement talked about a cooperative alternative, and started organizing around #BuyTwitter. Many of us feared Twitter's new owner might ruin "the people's news platform" with a narrow pursuit of profit or political gains. We proposed that Twitter sell to us, instead, with broad-based ownership and accountability. We've grown into a community of over 5,000 shareholders and users invested in Twitter's future.

On May 22, 2017, 4.9% of shareholder voted in favor of our proposal. We'll soon start developing a better proposal for next year, and exploring ways to start the study ourselves. We're also continuing our conversation with Twitter to move faster! And in parallel, we're experimenting with social.coop, our own instance of the free, open-source social network Mastadon.

Whatever happens, we’ll continue learning and advocating for democratic ownership of the platforms we use.

Email us at info@wearetwitter.global or join the conversation on Loomio

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