Is this the start of a so-called X-odus? The Guardian on Thursday announced it was going to stop posting on X, formerly called Twitter, over “long-standing concerns” about far-right conspiracy theories and racist content on the site. The media outlet said it was taking the stance and was prepared to say goodbye to its 27 million followers, a big call in a tough media landscape. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Since Elon Musk took over the reins of Twitter in October, 2022, turning it private and rebranding it as X, there has been a growing list of companies parting ways with the platform.
Luxury fashion house Balenciaga quit the site in 2022, while celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Carey have also shut down their accounts. Many are unhappy with the changes introduced by Musk, which included slashing 6,000 jobs and dramatically reducing the workforce of moderators who oversee content. A report by Australia’s online safety watchdog the eSafety Commission recently found X engineers focused on trust and safety issues at the company had been reduced from 279 globally to 55, a fall of 80 percent.
“Far right conspiracies”, along with racist and misogynistic content, has reportedly spiked on the platform following the election of Donald Trump. X is the new hub for the President elect’s true believers. Musk claimed his hands-off approach is essential to freedom of speech.
But that strategy has come at a cost. The platform’s worth has plummeted sin.