Elon Musk has found new managers

As head of security, Kylie McRoberts will tackle the issue of hate speech and other extremist content. In addition, Yale Cohen must make the service more attractive to companies, X announced on Tuesday. Cohen comes from the advertising industry.

Hate speech is also a business problem

Advertising revenues have halved since the takeover

Since Musk took over Twitter in the fall of 2022, advertising revenue has halved. The tech billionaire pledged radical freedom of speech He relies on severely restricting the spread of posts with problematic content rather than removing them. Since the takeover, two safety managers have already left.

A few months ago, online researchers showed how ads from well-known brands can appear next to anti-Semitic messages. Musk countered that the examples were artificially constructed and did not reflect everyday use. Several major advertising clients have now reduced their spend on X or stopped spending altogether. X boss Linda Yaccarino, appointed by Musk, is trying to convince them that the platform provides a safe environment for their brands.

Musk insults renegade advertising clients

Musk, meanwhile, insulted renegade advertisers during an appearance a few months ago, claiming it would be their fault if X failed. Musk, who is politically connected to the American right, attacks the Disney company and its boss Bob Iger particularly violently.

The X owner himself caused a scandal when he described a post containing an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory as ‘real truth’. Musk later said it was a mistake and misunderstanding and apologized. X emphasized on Tuesday that freedom of expression and security must coexist in the service. (sda/dpa/con)