Last week, NPR ran a piece, citing Media Matters for America, on half of Twitter’s top advertisers halting their ads while things shake out. Among those putting a pause on advertising are Chevrolet, Chipotle, Ford, Jeep, Kyndryl, Merck & Co., and Novartis AG. Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley noted something important: “These companies were fine with Twitter censoring free speech and blocking stories like the Hunter Biden laptop scandal before the election. They were fine with barring medical experts who were later proven to have valid concerns on Covid.” We’d continually heard that Twitter was a “hellscape” under previous management, overrun by Nazis and transphobes, and yet these advertisers stayed.
Mashable is a week late to the party but has a report about advertisers leaving Twitter, believing it’s no longer safe for their brand to be associated with the social media platform.
Twitter's not safe for the brand anymore. https://t.co/yosXo9PmyP
— Mashable (@mashable) November 28, 2022
Citing research by Media Matters (of course), “Social Good reporter” Chase DiBenedetto reports:
The majority of brands are what the organization has labeled “quiet quitters,” pulling out or subtly reducing their ad spending without a public announcement. Others, like Chevrolet, Chipotle, Ford, Jeep, and others, have issued statements on their departure.
Big brands have been reckoning with Musk’s changes and controversial statements for weeks. Earlier this month, global corporate advertising agencies recommended that many of their largest clients pause spending for Twitter ads, including Omnicom Media (an agency representing big names like Apple, Mercedes-Benz, and McDonald’s). Other brands, like Volkswagen, General Motors, and General Mills, also suspended all Twitter ad spending. Individuals and companies alike are leaving their accounts behind, like Broadway-beloved Playbill.
The walls are closing in … Twitter’s going to be shut down any second now … which is the same thing they said when employees left “in droves.” And yet the site still exists.
As seen on Twitter.
— Tommy Redmond (@tredmond) November 28, 2022
I guess it depends on what your brand is. So far the only thing that's decreased is child exploitation and censorship. Guess that's their brand?
— Cryssie Adams (@CryssieGA) November 29, 2022
I guess he shouldn’t have been so quick to remove child porn.
— 🫃🏼🇺🇦💉Hollaria Briden, Esq. (@HollyBriden) November 29, 2022
Im sorry but any "brand" threatened by opposing views doesnt deserve to be a brand. pic.twitter.com/DpT0Rt4Ae6
— Floplag (@floplag) November 29, 2022
Yeah, how dare others be allowed a voice in the public square…
— Lucas Olson (@L_A_Olson) November 29, 2022
Not safe because of the content or not safe because of the wokesters that are forming a mob against them if they advertise on Twitter?
— Ludwig von Rothbard (@BKH511) November 29, 2022
So it’s not safe without child porn is a take.
— Dr. $8 (@is_tyranny) November 29, 2022
Please leave
— Gliden Poseidon (@GlidenPoseidon) November 29, 2022
Okay, bye bye then. You will not be missed!
— Vinko Soldo (@ChaosADza) November 29, 2022
Yeah, all the kiddy porn being gone is a big blow to the brand.
— Patriot (@Patriot52060997) November 29, 2022
Posting about Twitter…on Twitter. That’s so 2022.
— Independent Thinker (@Indthinker22) November 29, 2022
Lol it’s fine for brands
— Ligma T. Aint (@Ligma_T_Aint) November 29, 2022
Just like CBS said they’re leaving and come back 2 days later🤣
— DanielH (@DKH63) November 29, 2022
Twitter: Bans pedophiles and purges child porn.
Mashable: "Twitter's not safe for the brand anymore."
— Christopher Walker (@chriswalker_12) November 29, 2022
Most companies' social media managers are petulant children who would happily tank the business they were hired to represent if it meant they could score virtue points with their fellow petulant children.
— Joshua (@skyllgz) November 29, 2022
Very true. Sometimes they get cranky and tweet some “off-brand” thoughts.
Most of the brands you listed in your article are Tesla competitors. If they’re citing any reason other than wanting to financially crush a competitor, they’re liars and cons. I’d at least respect them if they were honest about it.
— Hunter Biden’s Crackpipe (@JimmerFredett17) November 29, 2022
Could Media Matters post a list of the other half of advertisers who stayed? We’re doing our holiday shopping.
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Related:
Jonathan Turley notes which companies were fine with Twitter blocking ‘disinformation’ https://t.co/pUGhcrTxBA
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 26, 2022
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