The CEO of Mondelez International told Reuters that the company has ceased advertising on Twitter due to an increase in hate speech on the social media network after Elon Musk’s takeover.
“Since the announcement of the change on Twitter, we’ve observed a considerable spike in hate speech,” CEO Dirk Van de Put told the wire service. “We feared that our advertisements would show alongside inappropriate messages,” he explained.
“As a result, we’ve chosen to pause and take a break until the danger is as low as feasible,” he continued.
Formerly known as Kraft Foods, the Chicago-based multinational food business today produces Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, Philadelphia cream cheese, Trident gum, and Toblerone chocolate. Last year, the corporation generated approximately $29 billion in revenue.
Mondelez did not respond to a request for comment immediately.
Twitter requests the return of dozens of former employees days after major layoffs. 06:11
Other firms, including Allianz, Audi, General Mills, GM, United Airlines, and Pfizer, have paused their Twitter advertisements, and further major advertisers are anticipated to follow suit.
Ford Motor stated to CNBC that the manufacturer does not advertise on Twitter and did not do so before to Musk’s acquisition.
Musk criticized civil rights and other advocacy groups for frightening away advertisers last week.
Musk tweeted, “Nothing has changed about content control, and we have done everything possible to please the activists.” They are attempting to eliminate free speech in America.
Twitter laid off approximately half of its 7,500 employees this week, including those responsible for enforcing safety and quality standards.
Twitter has experienced a significant decline in revenue as a result of activist groups pressing advertisers, despite the fact that nothing has changed in terms of content control and we have done all possible to placate the activists.
Exceptionally messed up! They are attempting to eliminate free speech in America.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2022
A coalition of activist groups stated that Twitter was “inundated with hatred and disinformation” within twenty-four hours of Musk’s acquisition of the company and warned the twenty top advertisers on Twitter against “betting accelerating extremism.”
The groups stated that the majority of Twitter’s revenue comes from advertising, giving advertisers leverage to demand that Musk maintain the safety and viability of the social media network.