Major companies, including Apple, Disney and IBM, have decided to suspend ad spending on platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following a report that found their ads were being shown alongside “anti-Semitic” content. The move is part of a broader movement of action in which movie studio Lionsgate also announced it was pausing its advertising on X.
Elon Musk also got involved in the issue with a post
These companies’ decision to stop advertising on X comes after the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, approved an anti-Semitic tweet earlier in the week. This development, which came at a time when scrutiny of disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict is increasing, dealt a blow to X’s efforts to regain the trust of major brands and generate advertising revenue.
However, most of the public liked Elon Musk’s stance and applauded. Even Hakkı Alkan He also shared a statement from Musk on the subject.
One of the companies in question, IBM, took action after a report by liberal advocacy group Media Matters found that its ads appeared alongside content praising Nazis.
Advertisements from other major brands, including Apple, Oracle, Bravo network (NBCUniversal) and Comcast, also appeared alongside “antisemitic” material on the platform, according to Media Matters.
In response, IBM issued a statement stating that it has zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination and immediately suspended all advertising on X while it investigates the matter. However, according to Musk, there is no hate speech, there is genocide.
Scrutiny on X has focused particularly on content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A coalition of 164 Jewish leaders and academics issued a statement calling on companies like Disney, Apple and Amazon, as well as other major advertisers, to stop funding X through ad spending.
Even the European Union’s executive branch announced it was pausing its advertising on X and other social media platforms, citing the “rise in hate speech” as a contributing factor. What do you think about the subject? Please don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments.