Elon Musk used a very fashionable acronym in the video game world to describe the behavior of Internet users on Twitter.
You may have seen it by opening your Twitter application this Friday, January 27, 2023, if you follow Elon Musk’s account. The boss of the social network wrote a message in which he states that ” Twitter is the PvP of social media “. Three letters whose meaning will not escape people who play video games. But, for others, this acronym is probably not clear.
The expression comes from the video game lexicon and means “Player versus Player”, or “Player against Player” in French. It is mainly used in a few genres of video games such as MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games), but also first-person shooters – the formula has been used for Overwatch 2for example.
PvP actually refers to situations where players compete directly against each other. In MMORPGs, this results in battlefields (sometimes with dozens of players at once) or arenas (with slightly fewer fighters), with two camps (more rarely, three or more depending on the game ). It can also refer to one-on-one duels.
Conversely, the PVE (Player versus Environment, Player against Environment in French) designates a completely different side: the one where the players face the computer: it controls your enemies (whether monsters or something else), it follows a script designed in advance, it can trigger events depending on your progress and it can even have difficulty levels.
What is the relationship between PvP and Twitter?
At this point, you will ask yourself: but what is the relationship with Twitter? In reality, Elon Musk draws a parallel between PvP and his social network: in both cases, people compete and try to have the upper hand. In the video game, it is by virtually killing the enemy or getting more points than the opponent. On Twitter, it’s by winning a debate.
PvP is considered difficult. We are dealing with human players opposite in the video game, with behaviors that are not scripted, unlike a computer program. That said, today there are practically invincible artificial intelligence algorithms capable of turning over the greatest champions.
On Twitter, the least we can say is that exchanges between Internet users are not always very cordial. It’s vindictive at times, hostile at times. Sarcasm, irony and stings accompany the messages. We apostrophize each other, we invective each other. In short, people also put themselves on the face on Twitter. Exactly like in a PvP arena.
