The 2023 Code Conference, which unfolded largely as anticipated, took an unexpected turn in its final hours on Wednesday, as a clash of words between X CEO Linda Yaccarino and former Twitter head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth, captivated attendees. Roth, who resigned shortly after Elon Musk’s takeover of the platform in October, appeared as a surprise speaker, setting the stage for a verbal showdown.
Addressing the audience, Roth shed light on the contentious issue of content moderation, asserting, “I would encourage Twitter to take a look at the death threats targeting me… they’re all still there. Twitter didn’t take them down, thousands of them. They’re still on the platform today.” He emphasized the need for transparent evidence of safety progress to regain advertisers’ trust.
In a departure from the conference norm, Yaccarino’s session saw a conspicuous absence of Q&A microphones, hinting at an altered format. When she took the stage, Yaccarino swiftly distanced X from Roth’s tenure at Twitter, emphasizing the platform’s renewed focus on free expression and freedom of speech. “It’s a new day at X and I’ll leave it at that,” she affirmed.
During a tense exchange regarding Musk’s decision to institute monthly charges for X users, Yaccarino displayed a hint of exasperation, asserting, “We talk about everything.” The audience responded with laughter.
Throughout the session, Yaccarino lavished praise on Musk, characterizing his involvement with X as a tremendous asset. However, a handful of attendees offered a dissenting perspective.
In terms of X’s user base, Yaccarino disclosed that the platform boasts between 200 million and 250 million daily active users. On a financial note, she indicated a significant shift towards profitability, stating, “from an operating cash flow perspective, we’re just about breakeven.” This marks a notable improvement from July 2022, when Twitter reported an operating loss of $344 million.
Closing the discussion ahead of the moderator, Yaccarino made a swift exit, hinting at a potential absence from future Code Conferences. The verbal clash between Roth and Yaccarino provided a captivating conclusion to an otherwise predictable event, leaving attendees with much to ponder.
The 2023 Code Conference unfolded as an electrifying battleground of ideas and perspectives, leaving an indelible mark on the tech world. The clash between former Twitter leaders Yoel Roth and Linda Yaccarino serves as a powerful reminder of the pivotal juncture at which the industry stands, poised to shape the future of digital communication and expression.
Source: Yahoo Finance
