Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has revealed her plans for a transformative phase dubbed "Twitter 2.0" since taking the reins from Elon Musk a week ago.
She aims to position the company as the world's foremost provider of accurate real-time information, addressing the criticisms it has faced regarding its handling of disinformation.
Since Musk's acquisition of Twitter last year, the platform has encountered backlash over its approach to combatting false information. Within the past month, Twitter lost its head of trust and safety and withdrew from the EU's disinformation code.
In a series of tweets and an email to employees, Yaccarino echoed Musk's ambition to shape Twitter into a "global town square" that propels society forward through unfiltered information exchange and open dialogue on vital topics.
Calling it 'Twitter 2.0,' Yaccarino said, "have you ever been talking with someone particularly insightful and thought, you should have the freedom to speak your mind. We all should. Enter Twitter 2.0."
Hello Twitter.
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) June 12, 2023
People keep asking me: Why Twitter?
So, I’ll tell you. 👇
Musk, a self-described "free speech absolutist," has criticised Twitter's content moderation policies, advocating for it to be an authentic platform for free expression. However, his actions to reinstate right-wing accounts aligned with his own views and relax moderation standards have resulted in advertisers distancing themselves. Reportedly, revenue dropped by 40 per cent in December compared to the previous year.
Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion last year and faced pressure to appoint a successor to lead the company while he focuses on his other ventures, including electric car manufacturer Tesla and space exploration firm SpaceX.
On May 12, he announced that Yaccarino would assume the role of Twitter CEO in six weeks. However, she commenced the position earlier than expected, shortly after the resignation of the head of trust and safety.