Tech billionaire Elon Musk has revealed he has bought Twitter "to help humanity".
The 51-year-old mogul has hit back at critics who believe he has only purchased the social-networking company for advertising.
In a statement uploaded to Twitter aimed at the platform's advertisers, Mr Musk said he was acquiring the platform because he believed it was important to have a space where "a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner".
He said there was currently a "great danger" that social media will "splinter into far right wing and far left wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society".
Mr Musk's protracted 44 billion dollar (£37.9 billion) takeover of Twitter is expected to be completed in the US on Friday.
The acquisition has raised concerns in some quarters over Mr Musk's support of "absolute free speech", which could see the Tesla boss allow controversial and previously suspended accounts, including that of former US president Donald Trump, back onto the platform.
But in his message, Mr Musk appeared to be attempting to calm any fears among advertisers about the platform becoming more controversial and reducing its content moderation controls to protect free speech.
He said in a statement: "I wanted to reach out personally to share my motivation in acquiring Twitter. There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it has been wrong.
"The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilisation to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.
"There is currently great danger to that social media will splinter into right wing and far left echo chambers that generate more hate and divide in our society.
"In the relentless pursuit of clicks, much of traditional media has fuelled and catered to those polarised extreme views, as they believe that is what brings in money, but, in doing so, the opportunity for dialogue is lost.
"That is why I bought Twitter. I didn't do it because it would be easy. I didn't do it to make more money. I did it to try to help humanity, whom I love. And I do so with humility, recognising that failure in pursuit of this goal, despite our best efforts, is a very real possibility.
"That said, Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences!"
"In addition to adhering to the laws of the land, our platform must be warm and welcoming to all, where you can choose your desired experience according to your preferences, just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature."
On Wednesday, the billionaire SpaceX and Tesla boss posted a bizarre video of himself entering Twitter's San Francisco headquarters carrying a sink alongside the message "Entering Twitter HQ - let that sink in".
He has also updated his bio on the social media platform to "Chief Twit".
According to reports, Mr Musk told staff during his visit that it was not true that he was planning on cutting up to 75% of Twitter staff after acquiring the company.
It had previously been reported that Mr Musk had told investors he planned to cut back around three-quarters of the firm's 7,500 employees.
