X CEO Linda Yaccarino ridiculed the Associated Press after it published a story with instructions on how to leave Elon Musk’s X – then promoted the story on the platform.
“Ever wanted to quit Elon Musk’s X platform? Here’s how you can do it,” an AP article published on Thursday promised in a post on X.
“And yet…you’re still here!” Yaccarino replied in a post.
AP tech reporter Kelvin Chan wrote that a “steady stream” of celebrities and X users had abandoned the platform since the provocative billionaire – who has a net worth of $253.6 billion, according to Forbes – acquired Twitter in 2022.
“Some blame Musk for turning a place that used to be fun into one that’s chaotic and toxic, pointing to moves like allowing polarizing figures such as Donald Trump back in,” Chan wrote in the article.
Others left X and created accounts with rivals like Bluesky and Meta’s Threads because of Musk’s “juvenile humor” and tendency to “amplify far-right tropes,” the article said.
The story then gave readers step-by-step instructions on how to deactivate their X accounts.
The AP published a link to the article on X, which received 1,500 likes and a barrage of criticism for its hypocrisy.
One X user called the article “pro-censorship” and said the AP was “crying over X having free speech policies.”
The backlash shows the rising tension between those calling for online platforms to be held responsible for their harmful content and those arguing that platforms should be granted immunity under free speech protections.
Musk hired Yaccarino – who previously worked as the chairman of global advertising at NBCUniversal – to take the helm in June 2023.
Her job was to win back X’s dwindling advertisers, many of whom fled after Musk’s controversial acquisition of the company.
More advertisers – like Coca-Cola, Apple and Disney – have steered clear of the platform because of Musk’s inappropriate posts.
Most recently, the World Bank ended its paid advertising on X after some of its ads were reportedly displayed alongside racist content.
But the Tesla and SpaceX founder hasn’t tamped down his inflammatory posts.
Earlier this week Musk made headlines when he offered to “give” pop star Taylor Swift a child.
He has shared AI-generated images on his account – including one of Vice President Kamala Harris dressed as a communist dictator – despite a global crackdown on the spread of misinformation by tech giants.
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