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Which is worse for Twitter advertisers: child sexual exploitation or Elon Musk? Which is worse for Twitter advertisers: child sexual exploitation or Elon Musk?

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Which is worse for Twitter advertisers: child sexual exploitation or Elon Musk?

Credit: JC

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Following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, many companies have paused or stopped their advertising campaigns. A report from Media Matters for America said that over half of Twitter’s top 100 advertisers are no longer advertising on the platform. 

In September, Twitter promoted ads alongside child pornography. Some of the brands called Twitter out on this and either paused or suspended their ad campaigns. 

Some advertisers that were not affected by Twitter’s accidental promotion of ads with child pornography continued to advertise with the platform. And some of these brands who did so paused their campaigns when Elon Musk took over. 

A key issue is that in the past, Twitter has been lenient toward child predators, yet advertisers have been advertising with the platform for many years. 

It wasn’t until Elon Musk bought the platform that Twitter made removing child sexual exploitation material priority number one. Some of these advertisers are only now pausing or suspending their ad campaigns after Elon Musk took over. 

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A Twitter spokesperson said that the platform “has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation,” but there is a case where the platform refused to remove videos of two children being abused, and it took the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to step in for Twitter to remove the content. 

The Media Matters report stated that Elon Musk “has continued his rash of brand unsafe actions — including amplifying conspiracy theories, unilaterally reinstating banned accounts such as that of former President Donald Trump, courting and engaging with far-right accounts, and instituting a haphazard verification scheme that allowed extremists and scammers to purchase a blue check. This last move, in particular, opened the platform up to various fraud and brand imitations.”

There was no mention of Twitter’s new priority number one, which is the removal of child pornography from its platform. Additionally, many of these brands continued to advertise while Trump was president and active on the platform.

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Comparison.

The two following lists show companies that stopped advertising when Elon Musk took over and companies whose ads were published alongside explicit and illegal content. 

Companies That Stopped Publishing Ads When Elon Musk Bought Twitter:

  1. Abbott Laboratories
  2. Allstate Corporation
  3. AMC Networks
  4. American Express Company
  5. AT&T
  6. Big Heart Petcare
  7. BlackRock, Inc.
  8. BlueTriton Brands, Inc.
  9. Boston Beer Company
  10. CA Lottery (California State Lottery)
  11. CenturyLink (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
  12. Chanel
  13. Chevrolet
  14. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
  15. Citigroup, Inc.
  16. CNN
  17. Dell
  18. Diageo
  19. DirecTV
  20. Discover Financial Services
  21. Fidelity
  22. First National Realty Partners
  23. Ford
  24. Heineken N.V.
  25. Hewlett-Packard (HP)
  26. Hilton Worldwide
  27. Inspire Brands, Inc.
  28. Jeep
  29. Kellogg Company
  30. Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.
  31. Kyndryl
  32. LinkedIn Corporation
  33. MailChimp (The Rocket Science Group)
  34. Marriott International, Inc.
  35. Mars Petcare
  36. Mars, Incorporated
  37. Merck & Co. (Merck Sharp & Dohme MSD)*
  38. Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.)
  39. MoneyWise (Wise Publishing, Inc.)
  40. Nestle
  41. Novartis AG
  42. Pernod Ricard
  43. PlayPass
  44. The Coca-Cola Company
  45. The Kraft Heinz Company
  46. Tire Rack
  47. Verizon
  48. Wells Fargo
  49. Whole Foods Market IP
  50. Yum! Brands

 

Brands whose ads Twitter promoted alongside CSE Content. 

There were over 30 brands affected, and the following list is just some of the brands that were reported to be affected. 

  • Dyson
  • Mazda
  • Forbes
  • Walt Disney
  • NBC Universal
  • Coca-Cola
  • Cole Haan
  • a children’s hospital 
  • PBS Kids

A spokesperson for both Disney and Coca-Cola spoke out against Twitter promoting their ads alongside the CSE content, yet NBCUniversal confirmed that it asked Twitter to remove the ads associated with the content.

David Maddocks, brand president at Cole Haan, told Reuters that either Twitter fixes this or Cole Haan would do so, including by not buying Twitter ads. Mazda USA also said it would be prohibiting its ads from appearing on Twitter profile pages. 

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Although a handful of brands were upset over Twitter’s promoting ads along CSE, many of those brands that quit Twitter following Elon Musk’s acquisition were advertising up until recently. This includes both brands who had their content promoted alongside child pornography as well as those who didn’t.

For all of these brands who continued to advertise despite Twitter’s problem with CSE, the question remains: is advertising with Elon Musk worse than alongside the exploitation of children?

This is a question Eliza Bleu had for General Motors when the automaker first suspended its campaign after Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. Bleu is one of Twitter’s toughest critics who, up until recently, Twitter ignored. Elon Musk agrees with Bleu that CSE should be removed from the platform and has made it priority number one.

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“Twitter has a long history of knowingly refusing to remove child sexual abuse material at scale. This issue has been covered by the corporate media and called out by governments around the globe.”

“Over 32 brands removed ads from Twitter when the Reuters pieces came out in September of this year because of child sexual abuse material on Twitter. I think that General Motors’ lack of concern over sexually abused children says a lot. Survivors buy cars too. There are more survivors out there than these brands might think,” Bleu told Teslarati in October.

Bleu told Teslarati on Sunday that these brands only care about the world’s most vulnerable when it is politically advantageous.

“Where was the outrage, pearl-clutching, and solidarity for the minor survivors sexually exploited on Twitter over the past 10+ years?”

“These brands only care about the world’s most vulnerable when it’s politically advantageous. They only care about the vulnerable populations who buy products, vote, and have money. It’s manipulative and gaslighting.”

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“Thank you to the brands who took a stand against Twitter in September over this very real crime. My hope is that under the new leadership, the platform will continue to prioritize the removal of child sexual exploitation, and the brands that left in September can return knowing that specific issue will not negatively impact their brand as well as children around the globe.”

The question remains: Which is worse for Twitter advertisers: child sexual exploitation or Elon Musk?

Your feedback is welcome. If you have any comments or concerns or see a typo, you can email me at johnna@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter at @JohnnaCrider1.

Teslarati is now on TikTok. Follow us for interactive news & more. Teslarati is now on TikTok. Follow us for interactive news & more. You can also follow Teslarati on LinkedInTwitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

 

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Investor's Corner

Tesla still poised to earn $3B in ZEV credits this year: Piper Sandler

Piper Sandler analyst Alex Potter maintained his $400 per share price target on TSLA stock.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is still poised to earn about $3 billion in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits this year despite growing concerns over policy shifts under United States President Donald Trump. This is, at least, according to Piper Sandler analyst Alex Potter, who maintained his $400 per share price target and “Overweight” rating on TSLA stock.

Tesla’s ZEV credit revenue

In a recent investor note, Potter acknowledged that Trump’s efforts to undo EV-related incentives could impact Tesla’s ZEV credit income. The analyst noted that these effects would likely not be too drastic, however, even if ZEV credits provide Tesla’s finances with a substantial boost. Last year, Tesla earned about $3.5 billion from regulatory credits, equal to nearly 100% of the company’s FY24 free cash flow, as noted in a Benzinga report. 

Potter estimated that the impact of potential regulatory reversals from the Trump administration will likely not be immediate. “Tesla will still book around $3B in credits this year, followed by $2.3B in 2026,” the Piper Sandler analyst wrote.

Considering his reiterated $400 price target for Tesla stock, Potter seems to be expecting an upside of over 20% for the electric vehicle maker. It should be noted, however, that Tesla is a volatile stock by nature, so huge swings in stock price may happen even without material developments from the company.

Robotaxi developments

The Piper Sandler analyst also highlighted the progress of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) program and Robotaxi developments as potential offsets to regulatory headwinds. Potter pointed to expanding operations in Austin and Tesla’s push to launch Robotaxi services in Phoenix and the Bay Area, pending regulatory approval. 

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“In our view, these favorable FSD-related developments are likely to overshadow any/all negative commentary arising from lower 2025/2026 estimates,” the analyst wrote.

In addition to rescinding ZEV programs, the Trump administration has proposed ending the $7,500 federal EV credit by September 2025 and rolling back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

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Tesla sees 9,900 new vehicle registrations in China in July’s third week

Tesla introduced minor updates to the Model 3 and Model Y long-range variants recently.

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

Tesla recorded 9,900 new vehicle insurance registrations in China during the week of July 14–20, a 19.3% decline from the 12,270 units that were listed in the prior week. The drop follows a sharp surge in early July, when registrations rose 145% week-over-week.

Weekly registrations dip after early July surge

Tesla’s drop in insurance registrations last week follows a notable spike earlier this month. During the week of July 7–13, the company registered 12,300 vehicles, up 145% from just 5,010 units the week before. That surge was largely driven by strong domestic demand for the locally produced Model Y crossover and Model 3 sedan, both built at Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai.

Tesla introduced minor updates to both long-range models recently, as well as a minor price increase for the Model 3. The Model Y’s pricing remained unchanged, a move that likely helped maintain momentum in the highly competitive Chinese EV market, as noted n a CNEV Post report. Despite the recent dip, the Model Y continues to lead Tesla’s local deliveries, highlighting its role as the company’s top seller in China.

June sales remain strong despite lower exports

Tesla’s June wholesale figures in China totaled 71,599 vehicles, up 0.83% year-over-year and 16.1% from May, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Retail sales in the country reached 61,484 units, making June Tesla’s second-highest domestic month of the year, behind only March. The figures suggest that the Model Y and Model 3 are seeing some stable demand in China, despite emerging competition and pricing pressure in the local EV segment.

However, exports from Gigafactory Shanghai dropped to 10,115 units in June, down 13.9% from last year and over 56% from May. The shift suggests Tesla may be prioritizing domestic deliveries ahead of new product introductions. Tesla, after all, is expected to launch the six-seat variant of the Model Y, called the Model Y L, in China in the coming months.

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Elon Musk

Tesla Supercharger Diner officially opens: menu, prices, features, and more

Tesla’s Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles is open after seven years in the making.

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tesla diner in los angeles during daytime
Credit: Matt Hartman

Tesla has officially opened its Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles to the public for the first time. It is an 80-Supercharger lot with two movie screens and a full-service 24/7 diner that serves a wide variety of locally sourced food for patrons while they charge or even just stop by.

It is not exclusive to Tesla owners, as anyone can stop by to experience the Diner and movie theater. It officially opened to the public at 4:20 p.m. local time.

In 2018, CEO Elon Musk said he was hoping to build a full-scale 50s era diner that served as a drive-in movie theater. Seven years later, it has officially come to life, and in typical Tesla fashion, it opened at a very appropriate time of day. We heard of people waiting as many as 13 hours for the site to open.

Tesla Diner Menu

BURGERS & SANDWICHES

  • Tesla Burger: $13.5
    • 1/3 lb. prime Brandt Beef with New School American cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, pickles and Electric Sauce on a Martin’s Potato Roll
    • Add bacon: $3
    • Add Wagyu beef chili: $3
    • Add organic free-range fried egg: $2
    • Sub veggie patty
  • Hot Dog: $13
    • All-beef Snap-o-Razzo hot dog with mustard and onion pickle relish on a Martin’s Potato Roll. Served with fried potatoes
    • Add New School cheese sauce: $1
    • Add Wagyu beef chili: $1
  • Diner Club Sandwich: $13
    • Roasted turkey, Epio Bacon, blistered cherry tomatoes, lettuce, avocado and maple black pepper mayo on toasted Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Tuna Melt: $14
    • Wild-caught albacore tuna salad with New School American cheese and pickles on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Fried Chicken & Waffles: $15
    • Classic or spicy pickle-brined organic free-range chicken between two buttermilk waffles with maple black pepper mayo
    • Add New School cheese sauce: $1
    • Add bacon: $2
    • Add organic free-range fried egg: $3
    • Sub Martin’s Potato Roll
  • Grilled Cheese: $9
    • New School American cheese on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread
    • Add blistered tomatoes: $1
    • Add Avocado: $1.50
    • Add Epic Bacon: $3

ALL-DAY BREAKFAST

  • Egg Sandwich: $12
    • Two organic free-range scrambled eggs on a Martin’s Potato Roll with Epic Bacon, New School American cheese, baby arugula and Electric Sauce
    • Add avocado: $1.50
    • Substitute waffle Avocado Toast: $11
    • Sliced avocado, lime, tomatoes, pepitas, radish and arugula on toasted Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Greek Yogurt Parfait: $9
    • Strauss Creamery organic Greek yogurt, roasted strawberries, organic gluten-free granola and local honey
  • Breakfast Tacos: $9
    • Organic free-range scrambled eggs, beef chorizo, crispy potatoes and New School American cheese sauce folded inside two Tehachapi Grain Project organic flour tortillas. Served with a side of avocado crema
    • Sub bacon: $1
    • Add avocado: $1.50 Biscuits & Red Gravy: $15
  • Buttermilk biscuit with beef chorizo gravy and an organic free-range fried egg
  • House-Baked Cinnamon Roll: $7
    • Warm, frosted cinnamon roll with flaky salt

SIDES

  • Tallow-fried French fries: $4
    • Make it a cheese fries: $1 extra
    • Make it Wagyu chili cheese fries: $3 extra
  • Hash Brown Bites: $8
    • Crispy, tallow-fried shredded potatoes served with choice of dip
  • Wagyu Beef Chili Cup: $8
    • RC Provisons Wagyu beef chili with diced white onion and New School American cheese sauce
  • Buttermilk Waffle: $5 • Dusted with powdered sugar, served with real maple syrup
  • Market Salad: $10
    • Market kale and arugula, blistered cherry tomatoes, radishes, celery, shredded carrots, avocado, salted pepitas and toasted breadcrumbs.
    • Served with Dilly Ranch
    • Add roasted turkey: $3
    • Add fried chicken: $3.50
    • Add veggie patty: $4.50
    • Add tuna salad: $5
  • Epic Bacon:
    • $12 Four strips of maple-glazed black pepper bacon served with choice of dip

KIDS MENU

  • Kids Burger: $13
    • Prime Brandt Beef with New School American cheese
  • Kids’ Grilled Cheese: $13
    • New School American cheese on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread. No crust
  • Chicken Tenders: $13
    • Made with organic free-range chicken

DESSERTS

  • Soft Serve: $6
    • Chocolate, vanilla or swirl
  • Slice of Pie à la Mode: $12
    • Warm slice of Winston’s apple or pecan pie (gf) served with Valley Ford Creamery softserve a la mode
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie: $5
    • Warm chocolate chip cookie with flaky sea salt

DRINKS

  • Cane sugar sodas: $4 each: Cola, diet cola, lemon-lime, root beer, orange, black cherry or cream.
  • Milkshakes $8
    • Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. Make it a Pie Shake for an extra $4
    • (apple or pecan).
  • Lemonade: $4
  • Organic Draft Kombucha: $8
  • Drip Coffee: $4
  • Nitro Cold Brew: $4.5
  • Espresso (hot, iced, decaf): $4
  • Cappuccino (hot, iced, decaf): $5.5
  • Latte (hot, iced, decaf): $6
  • Iced Nitro Matcha: $6.5
  • Charged Sodas:
    • Creamsicle: $7
      • Orange soda, cream soda, vanilla foam, fresh orange and orange popping boba
    • Shirley Temple: $7
      • Lemon-lime soda, grenadine, fresh lime and maraschino cherries
    • Lime Rickey: $7
      • Lemon-lime soda and fresh lime
    • Catawba Flip: $7
      • Grape soda, vanilla foam, nutmeg and grapes
    • Dirty Kombucha: $10
      • Citrus kombucha, vanilla foam, fresh orange and lime, maraschino cherries.

Tesla Diner Details

The opening of the Diner was launched by Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Chief Designer:

There is also merchandise available at the Diner, including:

  • Tesla Bot Action Figure
  • Hollywood Retro Diner Tee
  • Tesla Sweets | Supercharged Gummies: Dog Mode Chill, Mango Bolt, and CyberBerry
  • Tesla Diner Trucker Hat
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