Audio By Carbonatix
Twitter may be in big trouble when it comes to generating advertising revenue: GroupM, part of WPP, the world’s biggest ad company — and Twitter’s biggest spender — is reportedly telling its clients that buying ads on the platform is “high-risk,” according to Platformer and Digiday.
That makes it the third advertising juggernaut telling massive corporations that they might want to take their money elsewhere, after IPG and Omnicom Media Group both recommended pausing advertisements on the platform.
GroupM works with companies like Google, L’Oréal, Bayer, Nestle, Unilever, Coke, and Mars. If you’ve ever seen that graphic about how a few brands make pretty much everything you buy at the grocery store, you’ll notice a lot of Venn diagram overlap with GroupM’s list of clients.
GroupM is reportedly concerned about several specific things following Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter; in a document, it cites the large numbers of Twitter executives leaving or being fired (especially those in charge of safety, security, and compliance), the wave of high-profile impersonations by “verified” users, and also raises concerns about Twitter’s abilities to follow the Federal Trade Commission's orders. If Twitter wants to lose its high-risk label, there’s several things GroupM reportedly wants to see, according to a document viewed by Digiday and a Slack message from Twitter’s agency partnerships lead seen by Platformer. The list includes:
- A “return to baseline NSFW levels”
- New IT Security, Privacy, Trust and Safety executives
- “Establishment of internal checks & balances”
- Transparency around plans that will affect user or brand safety, including changes to community guidelines and moderation policies
- A commitment to content moderation, and ability to enforce the platform’s rules
Those requests are, to put it bluntly, zero percent surprising. Companies don’t want to advertise on platforms where their messages, carefully crafted to be as inoffensive and enticing to as many people as possible, appear next to blatant hate speech, conspiracy theories, or, perhaps worst of all, a fake-yet-verified version of their profile posting pictures of their beloved mascot giving people the middle finger.
GroupM didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment. Twitter no longer has a communications department to reach out to with such requests. The internal message seen by Platformer says that Twitter is “working through” GroupM’s requirements with leadership.
While Musk has said that he wants to wean Twitter off its reliance on advertising for revenue, he’s not there yet. For one, a lot of people can’t even buy the company’s premium Blue subscription service right now, because the company temporarily suspended that program. Musk has said that Twitter is burning through around $4 million a day, and he’s also saddled it with hefty interest payments on the debt he used to purchase it in the first place. Twitter needs money if it wants to keep going — but it seems that advertisers are increasingly hesitant to provide it.
Latest Stories
-
Boakye Agyarko wraps up phase one campaign tour, promises to build strong NPP for Bawumia’s 2028 Victory
6 minutes -
Law School entrance exams abolished under new reforms – Dafeamekpor
7 minutes -
Low T-bill rates: Ghana’s true test for banks
13 minutes -
NPP launches research-driven policy engine to provide credible alternative for Ghana
14 minutes -
Jobs, health, energy, education: NPP’s sector committees cover every pain point Ghanaians face
21 minutes -
BoG to establish fintech innovation hubs nationwide
22 minutes -
Bawumia means business: New Policy committees puts NPP ahead of any opposition party in Ghana’s history
24 minutes -
New value for money law to tackle inflated contract costs – Finance Minister
25 minutes -
Weeds overtake idle government-funded cassava processing facility in Assin South amid concerns over stalled 1D1F project
26 minutes -
Review Petroleum Act to secure crude supply for TOR – expert urges
39 minutes -
May 9, 2026: GBfoods donates to support 25th anniversary commemoration
51 minutes -
There are only 2 cardiologists serving northern Ghana – GMTF Administrator
53 minutes -
Ghana Medical Trust Fund eyes establishment of 3 more cancer treatment centres under long-term health strategy
57 minutes -
Energy Minister inspects GRIDCo power projects in Kumasi
60 minutes -
Mahama Cares won’t fund medical treatment abroad – Administrator
1 hour