Following Donald Trump's triumphant return to the U.S. presidency on November 5, 2024, the social media platform known as X, previously Twitter, has experienced its most significant user exodus to date. Over 115,000 accounts were deactivated by U.S. users immediately after the election, highlighting mounting frustrations with the platform under Elon Musk's direction. Many users express dissatisfaction with Musk's apparent favoritism toward Trump during the election as well as troubling changes to the site itself, which they feel have turned X toxic.
This shift was marked not only by the departure of everyday users but also by notable figures from journalism and entertainment. The British media organization The Guardian announced it would no longer post on X, asserting, "At this point, X plays a diminished role in promoting our work." They cited the platform’s shift toward encouraging antagonistic content, particularly against far-left and progressive voices. This aligns with behaviors observed since Musk's acquisition of Twitter, which many claim have brought about increased hate speech and misinformation.
High-profile departures included veteran journalists like Don Lemon, who has publicly stated his disillusionment with X's potential for fostering honest and open discussions. He expressed, "I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve those purposes." This sentiment resonates not only with public figures but also with regular users who have migrated to alternative platforms such as Bluesky or Threads.
The alternative social media sites have thrived amid this exodus, with Bluesky announcing it has gained over one million new users within just the week following the election. Users flocking to Bluesky appreciate its community-driven structure and the ability to self-govern their digital interactions more than on X. Other platforms like Threads, backed by Meta, and Mastodon have also seen increases, underlining the complete dissatisfaction with Musk's management of X.
Many of these departing users grapple with the challenge of rebuilding their social media presence from scratch. Writers and critics have acknowledged the "daunting energy" it takes to cultivate followings on new platforms, but even this challenge seems preferable to facing the current climate on X. The Guardian's decision to leave and the departures of Don Lemon and others underline something more significant: the changing role of social media as both entertainment and news dissemination platforms.
Elon Musk's political inclinations became particularly apparent during the 2024 campaign, which some observers claim have skewed X's algorithms to promote Republican messaging intensely. A computational analysis led by Queensland University of Technology revealed distinct alterations made to how content was broadcast across the platform after Musk declared his support for Trump. Many see this not just as corruption of discourse but also as fundamentally altering the digital public square.
This mass migration away from X coincides with public worries about the intersection of technology and politics, particularly as Musk's alignment with Trump's administration seems to merge private enterprise with substantial political influence. Speculations suggest Musk may aim to unify X with Trump's Truth Social platform, leveraging user bases for both financial benefit and political maneuvers. Observers like tech journalist Kara Swisher contend Musk is turning the platform "into a propaganda organ" to serve not the public interest but the apparent desires of his political allies.
Despite the setbacks faced by X, the election outcome has individuals reflecting on the platform’s role and the broader spectrum of available social media options. There’s hope among users and creators alike to continue their work and discourse elsewhere. Users leaving X appears to signal more than just discontent with one platform; it demonstrates the electorate’s readiness to pivot toward alternatives when disagreeing with the status quo. The 2024 presidential election has catalyzed this movement, forcing many to reassess their relationship with social media and the institutions governing their interactions online.
