X Promotes Ads from Discovery, Showtime and USA Today on Neo-Nazi Account
X (previously known as Twitter) is facing ongoing challenges in retaining advertisers, and those that have remained are encountering their advertisements being displayed in unforeseen locations. According to Media Matters, brands like Honeywell, Discovery, Showtime, and USA Today have found their ads appearing alongside tweets from The National Socialist Network account, a neo-Nazi organization that actively promotes violence and terrorism. Additionally, an advertisement for job recruitment at the U.S. Border Patrol was also observed on the same page.
It’s clear that X is not only allowing hate groups to exist on the platform, but allowing them to monetize their tweets. National Socialist group leader Thomas Sewell was found guilty of “recklessly causing injury and mass” after the 2021 attack. Other members of the group have pleaded guilty to “possession of documents and information intended for terrorist acts”. However, the group’s Twitter account is still active.
Media Matters also reported that the account was joined shortly after owner Elon Musk bought Twitter. It’s been “verified since July 2023,” and according to Musk, all verified accounts are eligible to receive a share of the platform’s ad revenue.
Earlier this week, Twitter began cutting booking prices for new ads by 50 percent through the end of the month. The company says the discount is necessary to allow advertisers to “gain reach at crucial moments,” such as sporting events. Twitter also asked brands to spend at least $1,000 a month on ads or verification to keep their verified ID on the platform.
