The recent clash between Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Meta, has intensified, although any possibility of a physical confrontation remains unlikely.
It all began when Meta unveiled its new Instagram-like app called “Threads,” which is set to rival Twitter. Since then, both companies and their leaders have been engaged in a battle to prove their platform’s superiority. However, tensions have now escalated as Musk throws insults at Zuckerberg, using derogatory language like “cuck” and even joking about a “literal dick-measuring contest.”
While the exact reason behind Musk’s choice of words is unclear, it is likely connected to the launch of Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter competitor. Musk has been targeting his fellow billionaire ever since Threads made its debut, as the app’s design and functionality bear similarities to Twitter. Within a week, Threads accumulated 100 million downloads, and Twitter engagement has reportedly taken a hit, according to Cloudflare, a company specializing in website security and tracking services.
Amidst these developments, a Threads user (Wendys) suggested that Zuckerberg should venture into space to provoke Musk, referring to Musk’s work with SpaceX and other space projects. In response, the Meta CEO replied with a laughing emoji. A screenshot of this exchange was later shared on Twitter, with a user accusing Zuckerberg of protecting “brand speech” while Musk “protects free speech.”
Musk noticed the tweet and responded with a four-word insult directed at the tech mogul, referring to him as a “cuck.”
While “cuck” is generally a derogatory term with sexual connotations, it can also imply someone who is powerless or lacking capability, potentially aligning with the context of the Musk-Zuckerberg exchange. Similarly, Musk’s mention of a “literal dick-measuring contest” may allude to a metaphorical battle for dominance.
As expected, Musk’s tweet received substantial attention and drew numerous comments. Some initially mistook the tweet for a parody account but later realized it was genuine. Notably, Ian Bremmer, a well-known writer and political scientist, quoted Musk’s tweet and brought it to the attention of Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino. It became evident that Musk’s use of “cuck” was not a momentary lapse when he responded a few hours later to a fake screenshot involving Zuckerberg discussing size comparisons. Musk tweeted again, proposing a “literal dick measuring contest.”