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☆ Apple spends over $100 million advertising on Twitter annually, report says, amid Elon Musk's growing criticism of the tech giant
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple spent $48 million on Twitter ads in Q1, making it a key revenue stream, per the Washington Post. It is unclear whether Apple has actually removed ad spending from Twitter, and neither Apple nor Twitter immediately responded to requests for comment from Insider. Musk outlined in a tweet that Apple had additionally "threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won't tell us why." Shortly afterwards, Phil Schiller, a high-profile Apple executive managing the App Store, deleted his Twitter account, which had over 200,000 followers. If Twitter is booted off the App Store, it will lose access to 1.5 billion devices around the world, Bloomberg said.

[1/2] Twitter logo and a photo of Elon Musk are displayed through magnifier in this illustration taken October 27, 2022. The billionaire CEO of Twitter and Tesla also said Apple was pressuring Twitter over content moderation demands. Parler was restored by Apple in 2021 after the app updated its content and moderation practices, the companies said at the time. "Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Musk also said "yes" in response to a user question on whether Apple was threatening Twitter's presence in the App Store or making moderation demands.

☆ Musk says Apple mostly stopped advertising on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Billionaire Elon Musk said in a tweet on Monday that Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Apple and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier in November, Musk said Twitter had seen a "massive" drop in revenue and blamed activist groups for pressuring advertisers. read moreSeveral companies including General Mills Inc (GIS.N) and luxury automaker Audi of America have paused advertising on Twitter since Musk completed his purchase, while General Motors Co (GM.N) said it had temporarily halted paid advertising on the social media platform. read moreApple spent an estimated $131,600 on Twitter ads between Nov. 10 and Nov. 16, down from $220,800 between Oct. 16 and Oct. 22, the week before Musk closed the Twitter acquisition, according to ad measurement firm Pathmatics.

☆ VW Faces New Problem in China: Homegrown Competitors
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( William Boston | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Volkswagen has struggled to win over younger Chinese consumers, who are attracted to the gadget-heavy electric cars offered by local competitors. BERLIN— Volkswagen AG is losing market share to domestic auto makers in China, its single biggest market, confronting the German car company’s new chief executive with one of his most difficult challenges. Despite some sales gains in recent months, VW said it expects its market share in China to be around 16% this year. That is down almost a fifth since 2019, when it stood at about 20%, according to data provided by Jato Dynamics, a consumer research group. VW, which has the biggest market share of any foreign car maker in the country, owns brands that are popular there such as VW, Skoda, Porsche, Audi and Bentley.

☆ Almost 140,000 people paid for a Twitter Blue subscription in just 5 days, including far-right influencers and adult performers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A software developer found over 137,000 people paid for Twitter Blue, the New York Times reported. The typical Twitter Blue subscriber had 560 followers and many were far-right accounts. Many Twitter Blue subscribers were far-right influencers like Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, Libs of TikTok, and Catturd2. Musk's Twitter Blue subscription rollout has been marked by chaos the past month. On Monday, Musk said the Twitter Blue relaunch is on hold till the platform can resolve impersonation issues with "high confidence."

☆ Volkswagen says all brands have halted paid activities on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Volkswagen logo is pictured in a production line at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany March 1, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerBERLIN, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) brands have halted all paid activities on Twitter until further notice, a spokesperson for the company said on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Volkswagen said all the brands had followed the advice, while Audi had opted to halt organic activities, such as direct posts, and only respond to questions from clients on the website. WirtschaftsWoche had previously reported that Audi had halted all activities on the social media platform, citing company sources. "We are monitoring the situation closely and will decide on the next steps depending on developments," an Audi spokesperson added in an emailed statement to Reuters.

☆ Twitter is actually safer since Elon Musk took control, claims former safety chief Yoel Roth
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The former head of safety and trust said Twitter is actually safer under Elon Musk. Yoel Roth wrote an op ed for The New York Times explaining the reasons for his departure. "A Twitter whose policies are defined by edict has little need for a trust and safety function." However, Roth commented that even as Musk "criticizes the capriciousness of platform policies, he perpetuates the same lack of legitimacy through his impulsive changes and tweet-length pronouncements about Twitter's rules. In appointing himself 'chief twit,' Mr. Musk has made clear that at the end of the day, he'll be the one calling the shots."

☆ 'You're going to come back', Hamilton tells retiring Vettel
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Abhishek Takle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ABU DHABI, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday that he expected his old rival Sebastian Vettel to make a Formula One comeback. The 35-year-old four-times champion is bowing out of the sport after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday but Hamilton believes the 53-time grand prix race winner will find the lure of F1 hard to resist. "Obviously after the change from Ferrari to Aston Martin at that time it was the first time I really thought it might be the time to stop...," he added. Vettel jokingly suggested he could agree some sort of a swap with Hamilton, who turns 38 in January but is keen on extending his Mercedes deal. "We can make a deal ... when you want to get away, maybe then (I want to come back)," he said.

☆ A fired Twitter engineer urged remaining employees to 'disobey' Elon Musk, calling it their 'moral duty' to challenge the new billionaire owner
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A former Twitter employee urged those still left at the company to "disobey" Elon Musk. The fired employee said Twitter workers had a "moral duty" to keep the site's new owner in check. Since Musk took over Twitter a few weeks ago, thousands of workers have reportedly been fired. "Tweeps that are still employed, at this time: If your personal situation allows for it, it is your moral duty to disobey. According to Platformer's Casey Newton, Twitter fired roughly 20 employees overnight who had publicly and privately challenged and pushed back against Musk since he took over the company in late October.

☆ Balenciaga has become one of the first major fashion brands to leave Twitter amid concern over Elon Musk's takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Balenciaga is one of the first major fashion brands to depart Twitter after Elon Musk's takeover. Several public figures have also left the platform citing concerns over Musk's leadership. Balenciaga confirmed to Vogue the company had removed its account but didn't comment on the reason. Representatives for Balenciaga confirmed to Vogue on Monday that the company's Twitter account had been removed but did not comment publically on the reasons behind the decision. Representatives for Twitter and Balenciaga did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment

☆ SpaceX just bought a big ad campaign on Twitter for Starlink
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

SpaceX founder Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX joint event on August 25, 2022 in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. The ad campaign SpaceX is buying to promote Starlink is called a Twitter "takeover." Users should see Starlink brand messaging for the first three times that they open the Twitter app on the day or days of the planned takeover campaign in Australia and in Spain. Pressure on Twitter ad salesMusk is also the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla , in addition to his responsibilities at SpaceX and Twitter. Instead, Tesla garners headlines from fan blogs, news sites, and creates buzz through motor clubs, fan or shareholder events and social media engagement.

☆ SpaceX buys large Twitter ad campaign for Starlink as advertisers pause spending after Elon Musk's takeover, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SpaceX bought one of the biggest ad campaigns on Twitter for its Starlink service, CNBC reported. The Twitter ad package can cost companies at least $250,000, sources told CNBC. CNBC reported the news, citing sources. The ad campaign will give publicity to the satellite internet network, first in Australia and then in Spain, the reported documents showed. The current and former employees told CNBC SpaceX had not typically bought ad campaigns from Twitter in the past.

☆ Chaos unchecked: A comprehensive timeline of Elon Musk's Twitter verification saga - for now
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Elon Musk's revamped Twitter Blue launch has hit some major snags in the past week. The shenanigans surrounding the blue check (and subsequent gray check) has heads spinning among average Twitter users, major advertisers and big-name celebrities. Here's a look at everything that's happened with Twitter Blue in the past week and the murky state of verification on the platform. Musk's new verification model was designed to become part of Twitter's existing Twitter Blue feature, a $4.99 monthly subscription offering premium services. He also said that Twitter is adding a "parody subscript," because "tricking people is not ok."It is unclear when and how Twitter Blue may be reinstated.

☆ Tesla officially opens its charging network to non-Tesla cars
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla chargers outnumber so-called CCS chargers, the sort used by Ford, General Motors, Audi, Rivian and others, by a factor of two to one, according to Tesla. Now, Tesla has invited other automakers to build cars with charging ports that can work with Tesla’s charging format and for other charging companies, like EVGo, ChargePoint and Electrify America, to add Tesla-style plugs to their chargers. Tesla drivers have long been able to use CCS chargers with a simple adapter that fits over the charging plug. Even Visnic admitted, though, that Tesla chargers tend to be more reliable and easier to use than other public chargers. But charging companies may want to add these cables because it could bring in new customers, said Jim Burness, CEO of National Car Charging, a wholesaler of equipment to the EV charging industry.

☆ Elon Musk and a key adviser have discussed putting all of Twitter behind a paywall, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk and a key adviser have discussed paywalling all of Twitter, Platformer reported. The plans could see a monthly limit on how many tweets users can view, the report said. Any plan is a way off, however, with the current focus being on Twitter's proposed paid verification. Platformer reports that Twitter could be free for a certain amount of time each month, before a metered paywall kicks in. On Monday, Musk said that Twitter usage has hit an all-time high, but the platform has also seen many users leave.

DETROIT/WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Stellantis (STLA.MI) said on Monday it is pausing all paid advertising posts on Twitter as it waits to see what the platform will look like under the leadership of its new owner Elon Musk. “We're pausing paid advertising posts until we have a clearer understanding of the future of the platform under its new leadership," the automaker said of Twitter in a statement to Reuters. Musk has said Twitter has suffered a "massive" revenue drop since he took over 10 days ago. Stellantis joins a number of major companies that have halted advertising on Twitter, including United Airlines (UAL.O), General Mills Inc (GIS.N) luxury automaker Audi of America and General Motors Co (GM.N). Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) said earlier on Monday the company and its unit Kite were in the "process of pausing advertising" on Twitter.

☆ Twitter could be a new wild card for the midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN Business —For years, Twitter has been a leader in countering misinformation and protecting elections. But concerns are growing that tumult inside Twitter in the first week after it was acquired by Elon Musk could weaken its safeguards for elections, just before the midterms are set to take place. Musk promised not to alter any of Twitter’s content policies until after the midterms. He tweeted: “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” and without warning. The shakeup at Twitter has turned the company itself into an election wildcard.

☆ What the wave of tech layoffs tell us about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

What’s happening: Tech companies are announcing an alarming number of layoffs and hiring freezes. ▸ Lyft (LYFT) said last Thursday that it will lay off 13% of its employees, or nearly 700 people, as it rethinks staffing amid rising inflation and fears of a looming recession. But other companies won’t be immune to the softening demand from consumers and businesses that tech companies have noted. It doesn’t help that the uncertainty around the platform comes at a bad time for ad revenue-dependent tech companies. More potential supply chain woesThe threat of a US rail strike that could disrupt supply chains is still very real.

☆ United Airlines suspends ad spending on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 4 (Reuters) - United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) joined the list of companies that are suspending ad spending on Twitter, a United spokeswoman confirmed late on Friday. Major brands such as General Mills Inc (GIS.N) and luxury automaker Audi of America said on Thursday they have paused advertising on Twitter, days after the social media platform was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk for $44 billion. Reporting by Rhea Binoy in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Elon Musk threats to 'thermonuclear name and shame' companies that paused advertising on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On Friday, Elon Musk threatened a 'thermonuclear name and shame' against companies that paused advertising on Twitter. Before the takeover, Musk promised investors Twitter wouldn't become a "free-for-all hellscape" in a letter. Musk said a "thermonuclear name & shame" is coming to companies that have paused their advertising as they wait to see the direction Twitter takes under his new leadership. Before taking the helm of Twitter, Musk tweeted an open letter to advertisers promising the platform wouldn't become a "free-for-all hellscape." Companies including General Motors, Volkswagen, Audi, and Pfizer have all paused their advertising on Twitter, expressing concern over potential threats to brand safety and shifts to content moderation strategy.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter is losing more than $4 million a day so he had 'no choice' about cutting thousands of jobs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk said he had "no choice" to cut Twitter staff as the company loses $4 million a day. He tweeted on Friday: "Regarding Twitter's reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day." However, workers have told Insider they have been offered payments of between one and three months, depending on the region's legal requirements. Some employees told Insider's Kali Hays they began losing access to work systems soon after receiving the warning email, while hundreds of workers have tweeted about losing their jobs. He tweeted: "Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue, due to activist groups pressuring advertisers, even though nothing has changed with content moderation and we did everything we could to appease the activists."

☆ The #StopToxicTwitter coalition urging brands to stop advertising on Twitter has resulted in 'a massive drop in revenue,' Musk says: 'They're trying to destroy free speech in America.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Advocacy groups sent a letter to Twitter advertisers, urging them to push Musk to embrace content moderation or suspend ads. General Mills, GM, Audi, and other brands have suspended ads on the platform since Musk's takeover. "Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue," Musk tweeted Friday, citing the pressure on advertisers. "Without deliberate efforts by Twitter to address this type of abuse and hate, your brands will be actively supporting accelerating extremism." "If they don't leave now, advertising on Twitter will be akin to advertising on Parler before the January 6 insurrection," Carusone added.

☆ Tesla stock has dropped more than 35% since Elon Musk first said he'd buy Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Gotham/Getty Images)Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced his bid to buy social network Twitter , shares in his electric vehicle maker have dipped by more than 35%, and closed down just 3.6% for the day on Friday, amid a market rally that followed a volatile week. Musk first announced he had agreed to buy Twitter on April 25, 2022. Tesla shares closed that day at $332.67, and closed today at $207.47 capping his first full week of Twitter ownership. He has not said who, if anyone, may replace him as Twitter CEO, although he has told followers on Twitter that his position as sole director and CEO of the social network is temporary. Musk's ownership of the social network has caused some automakers, including GM and Audi, to pause ad spending there.

☆ Volkswagen tells brands to pause paid advertising on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] A Volkswagen logo is seen on one of the German automaker's cars in a street in Sydney, Australia, October 8, 2015. REUTERS/David GrayHAMBURG, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Friday said it has recommended to its brands to pause paid advertising on Twitter until further notice in the wake of Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform. "We are closely monitoring the situation and will decide about next steps depending on its evolvement," Europe's top carmaker said in a statement. The comments by Volkswagen group, which covers the VW, Seat, Cupra, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ducati and Porsche (P911_p.DE) brands, echoes similar remarks from other firms, including GM (GM.N) and General Mills Inc (GIS.N). Reporting by Jan Schwartz; Writing by Christoph SteitzOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Companies are suspending ads on Twitter after Elon Musk's takeover. Here's the full list of brands pressing pause on advertising.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"As always, we will continue to monitor this new direction and evaluate our marketing spend," a spokesperson for General Mills told The Wall Street Journal. As is normal course of business with a significant change in a media platform, we have temporarily paused our paid advertising. VolkswagenVolkswagen has reportedly taken similar steps and pulled its ads from the social media platform, per The Wall Street Journal's anonymous sources. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAccording to the report, Oreo maker Mondelez International has also suspended advertising on Twitter for the time being. Interpublic GroupMajor advertising agency Interpublic Group has also advised clients to pause spending on Twitter advertising during the company's "chaotic" interim.

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