The Guardian has made a decision to stop posting content on Elon Musk’s social media platform X from its official account.
In a statement to its readers, the news organization explained that they believe the negative aspects of using the platform formerly known as Twitter now outweigh the benefits, citing frequent “unpleasant content.”
“We want to inform our readers that we will no longer be active on the Guardian’s official editorial account on social media site X,” The Guardian stated.
The Guardian has multiple accounts on X with around 27 million followers combined.
The Guardian expressed concerns about the platform’s content, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism, which have been long-standing issues. The coverage of the US presidential election solidified their decision.
“This is an issue we have been contemplating due to the disturbing content, such as far-right conspiracy theories and racism, prevalent on the platform,” the company remarked.
“The ongoing US presidential election campaign highlights our belief that X is a toxic media platform controlled by Elon Musk, who is utilizing its influence to shape political discussions. This further amplified our decision,” they added.
Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, faced criticism from anti-hate speech organizations and the European Union for the platform’s content standards since he acquired it for $44 billion in 2022. As a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” Musk reinstated banned accounts like Alex Jones, Andrew Tate, and Tommy Robinson.
The Guardian clarified that X users can still share articles across the platform, and X posts might occasionally be featured in news coverage. Journalists can continue to use the platform for reporting purposes.
While the Guardian’s official account will be inactive on X, individual reporters within the organization can use the platform within the existing social media guidelines.
“Social media plays a crucial role for news organizations in reaching wider audiences, but currently, X has a limited role in promoting our work. Our content is accessible on our website, and we encourage you to visit theguardian.com and support our work there,” The Guardian expressed.
Following the announcement, Musk criticized The Guardian on X, calling it “irrelevant” and a “propaganda machine.”
National Public Radio (NPR) stopped using X last year after being labeled “state media” by the platform. Similarly, US public television broadcaster PBS suspended activities on X for comparable reasons.
The Berlin Film Festival decided to cease using X without stating a specific reason, and North Wales Police terminated its usage citing a misalignment with their values.
In August, the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital announced its departure from X due to an increase in hate speech and abusive comments on the platform. Read more here.
Source: www.theguardian.com
