Months After Mass Layoffs, X Seeks to Hire Moderators and Cybersecurity Experts
Nearly two years after the mass layoffs that affected its trust, safety, and security teams, Elon Musk’s social media company, X (formerly Twitter), is now attempting to rebuild its workforce. According to recent job listings on the platform, X has posted over two dozen openings across its safety and cybersecurity teams in the last month alone.
Job Openings: A Glimpse into X’s Rebuilding Efforts
The recent job postings reveal a significant effort by X to replenish its safety team following a devastating reduction of nearly 80% since Elon Musk took over the company. The layoffs, which occurred in late 2022 and early 2023, left many positions vacant, including several high-profile roles within the trust and safety teams.
Among the recent job postings are:
- Director of Strategic Response on X’s Safety Team: This role involves leading a team responsible for responding to complex crises that may impact the platform’s users or reputation.
- Government Affairs Manager: In this position, the individual will work closely with government agencies and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
- Security Engineers: Several openings are available in X’s cybersecurity team, focusing on maintaining the security and integrity of the platform’s infrastructure and systems.
- Threat Intelligence Specialist: This role involves analyzing and mitigating potential threats to the platform, including cyber attacks and other forms of malicious activity.
Comparison to Previous Workforce: A Significant Reduction
In April 2023, Elon Musk revealed that Twitter (as it was known then) had reduced its headcount by an astonishing 6,000 workers in just six months. This move left the company’s workforce at around 1,500 employees when layoffs were completed.
To put this number into perspective:
- The company’s trust and safety team saw a reduction of almost 80% since Musk’s takeover.
- X cut down its full-time content moderation team from 107 to just 51 employees.
- Contracted moderators also faced significant cuts, going from 2,613 to 2,305.
X’s New Approach: Creating a Trust and Safety Center
In January this year, X announced plans to establish a new Trust and Safety center in Austin, Texas. This move aims to enhance the platform’s ability to address complex content moderation issues worldwide. The recent job postings suggest that X is serious about rebuilding its safety team.
Nine of the two-dozen jobs posted mention Austin as one of the possible locations for these roles. While this may indicate a shift towards decentralizing operations, it also raises questions about the potential impact on local economies and talent pools.
Rising Concerns: Ongoing Security Issues
Despite X’s efforts to rebuild its safety team, the platform continues to face significant security concerns. These issues include:
- Cyber attacks: The platform has faced several high-profile cyber attacks in recent months, exposing sensitive user data.
- Malicious activity: The rise of deepfakes and other forms of AI-generated content poses a growing threat to X’s ability to maintain a safe online environment.
Conclusion
X’s bid to rebuild its safety team is a step towards mitigating ongoing security concerns. However, the challenge ahead will be substantial, given the depth and breadth of issues facing the platform. As X continues to navigate these challenges, it remains essential for the company to prioritize transparency, accountability, and user trust.
Key Takeaways:
- X has posted over two dozen job openings across its safety and cybersecurity teams in the last month.
- The company is rebuilding its workforce after significant layoffs since Elon Musk took over.
- The new Trust and Safety center in Austin, Texas aims to enhance the platform’s content moderation capabilities.
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