Twitter’s Head of Trust and Safety, Ella Irwin, has resigned from her position at the social media company.
Her departure comes amid ongoing criticism over the platform’s approach to content moderation and difficulties with retaining advertisers following Elon Musk’s acquisition in October.
Irwin, who joined Twitter in June 2022 from Amazon, has confirmed her resignation from various news outlets but declined to provide a reason for her decision.
She worked for about seven months and was responsible for overseeing content moderation and combating misinformation on the platform. Irwin’s internal Slack account appears to have been deactivated, according to sources and screenshots seen by Fortune.
Previous driving changes in trust and safety
Irwin’s departure marks the second resignation of the trust and safety chief since Elon Musk took office. She replaced the previous chairman, Yoel Roth, who stepped down in November after Musk acquired the company. Roth later wrote in a New York Times op-ed that he chose to leave because it was clear Musk would make unilateral decisions about Twitter’s policies.
Criticism and Challenges Under Musk’s Ownership
Since the acquisition of Elon Musk, Twitter has faced criticism for lax protections against malicious content. The platform has also suffered from technical challenges, mass layoffs, and an exodus of advertisers who fear appearing alongside inappropriate content. An investor in the company recently revealed that its value has fallen by two-thirds since Musk’s acquisition.
Content moderation disputes
Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter’s approach to content moderation has become looser and more controversial. The platform faced significant challenges stopping offensive and offensive content during Irwin’s tenure. For example, despite Musk stating that combating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was the platform’s “No. 1 priority,” Reports from NBC News and CNBC found that illegal content was still circulating freely on the platform.
Advertiser retention struggles
In addition to content management controversies, Twitter has faced challenges retaining advertisers. Brands have been wary of appearing alongside inappropriate content, which leads to a drop in ad revenue. In response, Musk appointed Linda Iaccarino, former advertising director at NBCUniversal, as the new CEO of Twitter to help address the issue.
Changes at Twitter since Musk’s acquisition
After Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the company underwent major changes, including cost-cutting measures and layoffs. Many employees who worked on efforts to prevent harmful and illegal content, protect election integrity, and show accurate information on the site have been let go.
Community feedback feature
Musk has promoted a feature called Community Feedback, which allows users to add context to tweets as a way to combat misinformation on Twitter. However, the effectiveness of this feature in addressing platform content moderation issues remains unclear.
Regulatory audit
Twitter is also facing increased scrutiny from regulators over its moderation efforts. The company has withdrawn from a voluntary agreement with the European Union to tackle disinformation, while reiterating its commitment to comply with the EU’s upcoming internet rules. The EU’s head of industry, Thierry Breton, has warned Twitter that it will not be able to avoid legal obligations in the EU after withdrawing from the voluntary agreement.
Impact on Twitter’s reputation and market value
Ella Irwin’s resignation, along with the ongoing criticism and challenges, negatively affected Twitter’s reputation and market value. Since Musk’s takeover, the company’s value has fallen by two-thirds, according to one investor. The platform’s struggles with content moderation and advertiser retention exacerbated this decline.
Looking Ahead: Meeting the Challenges of Twitter
With the departure of Ella Irwin and her continued criticism of Twitter’s policies, the company faces the challenge of addressing these issues while maintaining its commitment to free speech. The appointment of Linda Yaccarino as CEO is a step towards addressing advertiser concerns, but it is likely that further action will be necessary to restore user and advertiser trust.
Possible changes to modify the content
As Twitter faces increasing scrutiny from regulators and the public, the company may need to reassess its approach to content moderation. This may include implementing stricter guidelines, investing in additional staff, or using new technologies to better detect and remove harmful content.
Rebuild trust with advertisers and users
In addition to addressing content moderation concerns, Twitter must work to rebuild trust with advertisers and users. This may include greater transparency regarding policies and decisions, as well as proactive efforts to engage with stakeholders and demonstrate a commitment to addressing their concerns.
