The Guardian, a prominent British newspaper, announced on Wednesday that it would stop posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, citing concerns about the platform’s promotion of racism and far-right conspiracy theories.
In a statement on its website, the newspaper indicated that the drawbacks of maintaining a presence on X now outweigh any benefits and that resources could be more effectively allocated elsewhere.
“This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism,” the newspaper said. “The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.”
The newspaper’s official accounts, such as @guardian with nearly 11 million followers, will no longer be updated. However, its journalists may continue using X, and content from the platform could still be embedded in articles.
“Our reporters will also be able to carry on using the site for news-gathering purposes, just as they use other social networks in which we do not officially engage,” the newspaper said.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon also announced on Wednesday that he was leaving X, shifting to Bluesky. “I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose,” he said.
Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 spurred interest in alternative platforms like Meta’s Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon. Under Musk’s ownership, X has faced criticism for spreading harmful content, including misinformation. Musk has also emerged as a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump.
Threads recently reported over 275 million active monthly users, mostly linked to Instagram accounts. Meanwhile, Bluesky reached 15 million users on Wednesday, driven by renewed interest following Trump’s election win.