In an unforeseen turn of events, Microsoft, a tech powerhouse with a $2.15 trillion market cap, is pulling Twitter from its advertising platform. This move comes on the heels of Twitter's announcement that it would commence charging a substantial minimum of $42,000 per month for users of its API, impacting a wide user base that spans enterprises to research institutions.
The notification of the new pricing structure, delivered in March to users via email, was met with bewilderment and dismay. A report by Wired deemed the new pricing scheme as one that "prices out nearly everyone." However, Twitter's owner, Elon Musk, who recently took over the platform, seems unmoved by the growing discontent.
Microsoft's decision to drop Twitter from its advertising platform is intriguing. As a tech giant with around $100 billion in cash on hand at the end of last year, Microsoft could effortlessly foot the bill for Twitter's API. The decision seems more of a statement than a financial necessity, although Microsoft remains reticent about the specifics behind its move.