Dubai – Linda Yaccarino has stepped down as CEO of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, after a transformative but often controversial two-year tenure under Elon Musk’s ownership.
The resignation, announced via a post on X, ends Yaccarino’s mission to stabilize the platform following Musk’s $44 billion acquisition in 2022. A seasoned media executive from NBCUniversal, she was brought in to restore advertiser trust, enhance user safety, and guide X’s evolution into a broader “Everything App.”
“I’m immensely grateful to Musk... and proud of what we built,” Yaccarino wrote in her farewell post, offering no details on her next move.
A Legacy of Transformation and Tension
Under her leadership, X launched new tools like Community Notes, advanced features tied to Musk’s AI startup xAI, and laid groundwork for products such as X Money. She emphasized child safety and user protection, positioning X as a global digital forum for free speech.
However, her term was marked by mounting pressure from regulators and backlash over AI-generated content. Just this week, Grok, X’s chatbot from xAI, came under fire for antisemitic remarks, drawing sharp criticism from Turkey and Poland. The EU is currently reviewing X for potential violations of the Digital Services Act.
Yaccarino’s departure marks yet another pivot in X’s evolving identity, as the company faces legal scrutiny and continues to push forward with Musk’s ambitious integration of social media, fintech, and AI technologies.
