The Intriguing Journey of Phillip Buchanan from Catturd Twitter Troll to the Center of Elon Musk’s Attention
Elon Musk’s right-wing Catturd Twitter account, which he promised to support immediately after taking over, has turned on him.
Mr Musk pledged to investigate the pro-Trump account’s accusations that the previous regime had “shadowbanned, ghost banned, [and] search banned” them one day after buying the social media network for $44bn. The user initially praised Mr Musk’s claim that he was “digging into” the situation, which earned thousands of followers and lifted the search block.
However, they now appear concerned about Mr. Musk’s platform management, including creating a moderation committee. Mr. Musk said the council must approve the reinstatement of de-platformed accounts, including Donald Trump’s. He has declared that Mr. Trump and others would not be reinstated before the November 8 midterms. The Catturd Twitter account tweeted their dissatisfaction.
“The new Twitter moderation council is essentially far-left fanatics who weren’t targeted. No ordinary Joes, true Conservatives, or representation for the TARGETED!” After being born Phillip Buchanan on September 18, 1964, Catturd has become a right-wing Twitter shitposter and online troll. Catturd’s Twitter posts scatological humour, conspiracy theories, and disinformation from his property in Wewahitchka, Florida.
Relationships and Challenges in Personal Life
Buchanan’s personal life is wrapped in relationships and obstacles. Born in 1964, he divorced three times. The first marriage started in September 1986, annulled in 1988. In 1991 and 2002, subsequent marriages ended in divorce. Buchanan, who claims to have served in the US Army, declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the 1990s. He later headed a band in Tallahassee, Florida, demonstrating his diverse experience.
Online Activity: Catturd Twitter Rises
Catturd started posting on Disqus under Breitbart News articles in the 2010s. He created @catturd2 in September 2018 after failing to find @catturd on Twitter. Famous figures like Jack Posobiec retweeted the account. With half a million followers by 2020, Catturd Twitter had seven retweets from Trump. Media Matters for America claimed Buchanan violated Twitter’s platform manipulation guideline.
The latest post from his Twitter handle –
I want to thank all my subscribers. My $8 per month subscription page is a pet lovers page where we only share pet pics and funny pet videos. I use the money I receive to help pay for my 13 rescues. Believe me, their upkeep is astronomical, lol. Building some new kennels this…
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) December 31, 2023
Twitter Acquisition by Elon Musk: A Turning Point
Elon Musk bought Twitter, putting Catturd in the spotlight. Catturd had previously connected with Musk on the platform and was excited about Musk’s takeover. Musk’s intentions to reduce Twitter’s content control were lauded. Despite the positive outlook, Catturd claimed to remain shadowbanned following the acquisition. Leaked Twitter internal docs from March 2023 revealed that Musk’s Twitter boosted Catturd’s account.
Presidential Poll, Allegiances Unravelled
Catturd polled Twitter in the same month about a 2024 Republican presidential primary between Trump and DeSantis. The poll gave Trump a 69% lead. Trump announced the findings at a rally, and Trump-affiliated super PAC MAGA Inc. tweeted them.
Catturd’s rise from online provocateur to Elon Musk’s Twitter protagonist shows how social media dynamics mix humour, politics, and influence. As the digital landscape changes, so do individuals like Catturd, leaving onlookers curious about the future of online discourse. Elon Musk spent his first day as “Chief Twit” promising to investigate why Catturd Twitter was apparently “ghostbanned” on Twitter, but the MAGA troll account has seemingly abandoned him. On Wednesday, the unknown user behind @catturd2 tweeted, “I admit when I’m wrong, and I was 100% wrong about @elonmusk changing Twitter.” The new Twitter moderation council is essentially far-left fanatics who weren’t targeted.
No ordinary Joes, true Conservatives, or representation for the TARGETED! Catturd, whose bio reads “Chief Turd” and features a white cat, appears to be echoing Musk’s statement that he won’t restore account bans until a new “content moderation council” is established. Musk then stated that he was discussing “hate & harassment” with “civil society leaders”, including the Anti-Defamation League, and that he “will not allow anyone who was de-platformed for violating Twitter rules back” for at least a few weeks.
Conclusion
Catturd Twitter, pseudonym Phillip Buchanan, is a fascinating Twitter provocateur who ascended from anonymity to become a prominent right-wing internet trolling character. When Elon Musk bought Twitter, Catturd’s scatological humour, conspiracy theories, and celebrity interactions took a turn. With leaked documents showing Musk’s manipulation of Catturd’s reach, their relationship, initially enthusiastic and supportive, became complicated. The tale shows how online personas, politics, and social media platforms interact, intriguing viewers about digital discourse’s ever-changing landscape. As Catturd’s story unfolds, it shows how influence, humour, and surprising twists merge in social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Musk wants to transform Twitter into what?
According to a social media and marketing scholar, Elon Musk wants to make Twitter an ‘everything app,’ which is difficult.
Musk paid how much for Twitter?
Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last year. Since the takeover, most Twitter employees have been fired or quit. Musk renamed X, changed content standards, and lost over half its advertising revenue.
Are Twitter users leaving?
Since Musk bought it in October 2022, its app’s daily active users have dropped 13%. According to Big Technology’s initial publication, Twitter’s redesign to X hastened its collapse.
