Twitter CEO Dick Costolo: ‘We will hunt down trolls’

TWITTER’S CEO has admitted in a leaked memo that the company ‘sucks’ at dealing with online harassment but has vowed to hunt down trolls.

epa03865068 (FILE) A file photograph showing Twitter CEO Dick Costolo attends a Twitter seminar during the 59th edition of the International festival of creativity, Cannes Lions in Cannes, France, 20 June 2012. Social media company Twitter announced on 12 September 2013 through its own service that it has filed paperwork for a planned initial public offering of shares. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER *** Local Caption *** 50396927

TWITTER CEO Dick Costolo is taking on the trolls.

The New York Post reports that the head honcho admitted the social media service “sucks” when it comes to dealing with online harassment and that it’s bleeding users as a result, according to a leaked memo.

“I’m frankly ashamed of how poorly we’ve dealt with this issue during my tenure as CEO,” he wrote to staffers. “It’s nobody else’s fault but mine, and it’s embarrassing.”

Dick Costolo, chief executive officer of Twitter, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan. Picture: Supplied

Mr Costolo said curbing Twitter abuse is now a priority, according to the memo.

“We’re going to start kicking these people off right and left and making sure that when they issue their ridiculous attacks, nobody hears them,” he said.

His war on trolls comes as Mr Costolo feels the heat for Twitter’s sluggish user growth. Some irate investors have called for the CEO to be fired.

Mr Costolo has responded to his critics by rolling out a flurry of new features to woo users, such as the ability to edit and share videos and to chat in groups.

Twitter also announced on Thursday that it had struck a new deal with Google that will make it easier to find tweets in the search giant’s results.

Originally published as Twitter CEO Dick Costolo: ‘We will hunt down trolls’