I never liked X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, but I did appreciate it.

If and when it dies, we will still have to endure the injustice and indignity of how badly it has been degraded as a valuable tool, not just for for the media hacks among us, but society in general.

Since its creation, Twitter was an invaluable tool for professionals, news-seekers, onlookers, bystanders, engagers, and others as a way to tap into raw, unfiltered information from across pretty much any divide you could think of.

Never before has the general public had such easy access to what is effectively a free wire service from every corner of the globe. In everyday use, users could treat it like a benign message board to air thoughts and share vignettes of information or insight about whatever they liked. It could also be an invaluable way to disseminate information from or to a disaster zone, to highlight causes, and much more.

Its value was multifaceted—it wasn’t just a place to share information, but a place to connect with people that you might otherwise never have had the opportunity to.

As one particularly charming local politician once said to me in my capacity as a community journalist, it was a great place for them to engage with “real journalists.”

I write this not to sing the platform’s praises or point out its many flaws, but to bemoan its degradation under the leadership of a megalomaniac since its purchase for an eye-watering US$44 billion last year. Notably, creditors now claim it is worth US$19 billion. May we bask in the business acumen of Elon Musk.

Since he took over with sweeping claims he would make Twitter profitable and put an end to “wokeness,” Musk has fired thousands of staff, refused to pay rent for offices, encouraged the spread of misinformation, removed limits on state-sponsored propaganda from Canada’s enemies, stifled public debate and consumed countless hours of his remaining employees’ time chasing grudges and generally just taking up oxygen. And for what? Apparently his ego and/or shockingly stilted worldview.

Musk has brought with him all the arrogance of a venture capitalist, but apparently very little of the understanding (see the spiraling business dealings of the platform for proof).

On top of that, he brings with him a dangerous contempt for the public good. Earlier this year, he took aim at Wikipedia (again), asking questions about its funding sources and financial management while completely missing the point: it’s run as a not-for-profit and operates off donations by design.

Musk’s forays into the cultural space are the most well-known, however. His edicts that words like “cisgender” should be considered slurs, while the use of actual slurs that I’d never repeat (not because I am “woke,” but because I’m a civil member of society) are on the rise on his platform is yet another nail in the coffin of a once invaluable social tool.

Having said that, there are so many nails in this particular coffin that the lid should be splintering into wood chips by now, and yet, the spectacle continues.

It is no wonder that top advertisers would jump ship given the options available to them: Engage with the crazy person smashing things for the sake of it, or don’t.

Musk took over Twitter claiming he was going to improve the viability of the platform and ensure its future, but his involvement is probably what will end it.

For all of Twitter’s many flaws, Musk’s part in its story will go down as a case study in how ego can destroy institutions.

Social media platforms come and go, but they all find a niche when they’re here, and we (sometimes) miss them when they are gone.

The degradation of the Twitter that was is a damn shame. Its demise under Musk will be a relief.