Wired: Twitter’s Layoffs Are a Blow to AccessibilityThe company recently took major steps to make the platform more inclusive after pressure from disabled users. Then Elon Musk gutted its accessibility team.
After acquiring the company and
slashing his staff, Elon Musk gutted formerly high-priority projects. He wiped out an entire group of
artificial intelligence researchers. Additional cuts left the site’s
content moderation manned by a skeleton crew. Another casualty? A small but vital group working to make Twitter more accessible. Without this team, Twitter users who have relied on accessibility tools worry that they’re losing a valuable online home for their communities.
Even if another network with superior accessibility features emerges, the sting of losing a gathering place will remain. “I’m really sad my community is gone,” Kim says.
Over to you...
Do you think Elon Musk is justified in his decision?
Can you think of another example of where accessibility has been deprioritised on a digital platform?
Do you use Twitter? Have you noticed any changes?