X Shifts Focus To Smaller Advertisers, As CEO Yaccarino Defends Elon Musk's 'Go Fuck Yourself' Message To Big Brands Boycotting The Platform

X is expanding its push to facilitate ad spending by small businesses and individuals, as woke larger advertisers pause spending on the social media platform following recent controversy over content moderation. Big brands like Disney, IBM and Apple, halted spending on X, in what owner Elon Musk called an attempt to “blackmail” him into censoring more content on the platform.

According to the social media company, it has been working with third parties, such as US marketing start-up JumpCrew, to which it will outsource some ad sales to target small and medium-sized businesses(SMB).

In a statement, X reportedly said: "Small and medium businesses are a very significant engine that we have definitely underplayed for a long time. It was always part of the plan -- now we will go even further with it.”

As large woke advertisers boycott the social media platform, some industry experts said a change in advertising strategy would help, as there are sectors less inclined to care about Musk’s edgy posts on X, such as sports and gambling firms. Popular influencers such as Andrew Tate, and media outlets like Daily Wire have all pledged to spend millions on advertising on the platform.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino, rebuffed recent effort by left-wing activists in the advertising industry, to get her to resign in other to pressure Musk.

In a company-wide letter Thursday, Yaccarino rallied employees behind Musk's recent "go fuck yourself" remarks at the New York Times' DealBook Summit.

Yaccarino cheered X’s stance on fighting censorship, stating that Musk had shared an “unmatched and completely unvarnished perspective” and vision for the future.

“Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised -- ever,” she wrote. “And no matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don’t understand our mission.”

Here's Yaccarino's letter to employees:

Proud to be at X with YOU!

Hi all,

Yesterday I posted this about DealBook and the X community has been quite lit up today on the same topic. Elon’s interview was candid and profound. He shared an unmatched and completely unvarnished perspective and vision for the future. If you haven’t watched it, please take the time to absorb the magnitude and importance of what we’re all a part of. Because that’s exactly what I wanted to focus on with you today.

We’re at one of the most maverick companies in the world and we get to do things that have never been done before. X sits in a one-of-a-kind constellation of companies that are changing the world – from helping to conserve the planet through Tesla’s electric vehicles, to exploring new planets with SpaceX, to the seamless global connectivity of Starlink, to the potential of transforming lives with Neuralink, to responsibly reimagining the benefits of AGI through xAI.

You’re at X because you have the courage and conviction to build and operationalize the most consequential platform that exists. That’s quite an enviable position to be in.

Our mission at X is bold: to be an open platform without censorship of thought – one that provides people information and the freedom to make up their own minds. Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised – ever. And no matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don’t understand our mission.

I’m immensely proud to lead this company – with the passionate people and partners of the X community and most fortunately with all of YOU.

As always, if you need me – I’m here.

Linda