Elon Musk moving some X operations to suburban Bastrop compound

Bastrop is a big winner in Elon Musk’s empire expanding to Texas.

Social media company X is establishing a “safety support center,” focused on content moderation, at Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza in the Austin suburb, the Austin Business Journal reported. The complex also houses offices for The Boring Company and SpaceX.

X previously said it would open a “trust and safety center of excellence” in Austin. The Bastrop safety center, which is set to employ about 100 workers, will concentrate on combating child sexual exploitation material while also assisting in upholding the platform’s policies against hate speech and violent content.

According to a job listing, X’s safety team investigates content that may cause harm to users or pose risks to X, such as spam and fraud, and provides support to customers. Salaries at the safety center will range from $50,000 to $55,000. That’s about 60 percent of the Austin metro’s median income of $88,200 for a single person.

The move comes as X plans to relocate its headquarters from San Francisco to Austin, a shift that aligns with Musk’s broader strategy of expanding his business operations in Texas. SpaceX will also transition its headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to its Starbase in South Texas. 

X has been shopping for office space for its Austin headquarters. Since the world’s richest person bought it in October 2022, X’s workforce had been significantly reduced, with reports indicating an 80 percent cut from its previous 7,500 employees.

Musk’s expansion to Texas was driven by a combination of strategic advantages, personal preference and politics. Texas offers lower taxes and fewer regulations compared to California. The state’s lower cost of living and business-friendly environment also provide substantial savings and operational efficiencies compared to other states. The billionaire founder of Tesla also indicated in an X post that he is fed up with California’s progressive politics. 

Besides that, Texas’s central location makes it advantageous for national and international logistics, which aligns with Musk’s expansive vision for his ventures. 

— Andrew Terrell

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