Linda Yaccarino, the new CEO of Twitter, has revealed her plans for “Twitter 2.0” after taking over from Elon Musk a week ago. Yaccarino aims to make Twitter the world’s most accurate real-time information source.
Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter last year, the company has faced criticism for its handling of disinformation. Recently, the company lost its head of trust and safety and withdrew from the EU’s disinformation code.
Yaccarino echoed Musk’s vision for Twitter as a transformative “global town square” in a series of tweets and an email to employees. She emphasized the importance of unfiltered information exchange and open dialogue that drives civilization forward.
Experts, like Ray Wang, CEO of research firm Constellation, highlighted the need for an unbiased town square to maintain user trust. Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has faced backlash for his approach to content moderation on Twitter.
However, his actions to reinstate right-wing accounts and loosen moderation have led to a decline in advertiser interest and revenue. To regain advertisers, clear expectations regarding user content and engagement are necessary.
Experts believe that Yaccarino’s presence will provide a balancing influence on Musk, given her expertise and his respect for her. Musk purchased Twitter last year for $44 billion and has been seeking a leader for the company to focus on his other ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX.
On May 12, Musk, the world’s richest person, announced Yaccarino’s appointment as CEO. She assumed the role earlier than planned, following the resignation of the head of trust and safety. Yaccarino’s track record includes successfully guiding NBCUniversal through industry changes. In her previous role, she transformed the company’s advertising sales business and oversaw the launch of Peacock, an ad-supported streaming platform.
Yaccarino now oversees Twitter’s business operations, while Musk remains executive chairman and chief technology officer.
Experts like Daniel Ives from Wedbush Securities believe Yaccarino has a solid vision for Twitter and the task of monetizing the platform.
They view her appointment as a positive step toward turning the company around and capitalizing on its potential.
