The World Bank’s Decision to Cease Paid Advertising on Elon Musk’s Social Media Platform X
The World Bank has made a significant decision to halt all paid advertising on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This move comes after a CBS News investigation uncovered promoted advertisements from the organization appearing under a racist post from an account known for posting pro-Nazi and white nationalist content.
CBS News discovered a verified X account with over 115,000 followers that had posted a racist image alongside a post praising Europe’s colonization of Africa. The World Bank’s promoted advertisement was found in the comments section below this offensive post. In response to this discovery, a spokesperson for the World Bank stated that they had already reduced their paid marketing on X and were working with the platform to implement strong safety protocols. However, the latest incident was deemed unacceptable, leading to the immediate cessation of all paid marketing on X.
The account in question has shared numerous antisemitic and racist posts in recent weeks, with promoted advertisements from various businesses appearing under these inflammatory posts. CBS News identified more than a dozen verified X accounts with large followings that regularly post white nationalist or pro-Nazi content, with recognizable brands‘ advertisements showing up in their comments threads.
X’s policy on hateful conduct explicitly prohibits attacks based on race, ethnicity, and other factors, as well as the use of symbols historically associated with hate groups. Despite these guidelines, promoted advertisements from companies like Saudia Airlines and Nordace were found under posts containing hateful content on the platform.
It was revealed in public court filings that Kingdom Holdings, a Saudi Arabian conglomerate linked to the country’s royal family, is a key investor in X. This connection raises questions about the platform’s association with entities that promote hateful ideologies. Additionally, Elon Musk’s changes to X’s business model have raised concerns about the platform’s content moderation and enforcement of hate speech policies.
Musk’s alterations to X’s algorithms have favored accounts that pay for the platform’s blue-check subscription service, allowing influencers to monetize their content. Verified accounts on X can qualify for a share of advertising revenue based on their followers and engagement metrics. This system has enabled accounts spreading hate speech to profit from their content, raising ethical concerns about the platform’s role in amplifying harmful ideologies.
In conclusion, the World Bank’s decision to cease paid advertising on X highlights the challenges faced by social media platforms in combating hate speech and harmful content. The platform’s association with entities promoting extremist views, coupled with Elon Musk’s changes to its business model, underscores the need for robust content moderation and ethical advertising practices in the digital age.
