On Thursday, Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia announced its decision to withdraw from Elon Musk's social media platform X, citing the site’s transformation from what once was simply Twitter to what they now label as a "disinformation network." This significant move follows closely behind the British publication The Guardian, which also stated it would terminate its association with X due to concerns over the prevalence of disturbing and toxic content.
Located in Barcelona, La Vanguardia released its statement highlighting the platform's current state as both "an echo chamber" rife with misinformation and conspiracy theories, exacerbated by the lack of adequate content moderation. They argued this environment has proliferated harmful ideas and narratives, which have gained unprecedented traction and influence without the benefit of effective oversight.
Critics of X attribute much of this deterioration to the policies implemented by Musk after he purchased the platform for $44 billion in 2022. Since then, Musk has disbanded many of the trust and safety teams responsible for moderative oversight. Content moderation efforts have suffered significant cuts, and known purveyors of conspiracy theories have been allowed back onto the site.
According to La Vanguardia, the societal impacts have been stark; "hatred of ethnic minorities, misogyny, and racism" frequently tend to go viral, drawing attention and ad revenue, even as they violate human rights. The newspaper pointed to the rise of automated accounts spreading disinformation, such as those commenting on the recent catastrophic floods in Spain, which left over 223 people dead.
The decision reflects wider concerns within the media sector about the ethical challenges presented by platforms like X. A day before La Vanguardia made its announcement, The Guardian issued a similar statement indicating its retreat from X, calling it "toxic" and highlighting how the platform has devolved under Musk's management. Among their criticisms was the assertion it has allowed for significant manipulation of political discourse.
The Guardian expressed it would now allocate more resources toward promoting journalism across safer platforms, believing the negatives of maintaining their presence on X outweighed any benefits. They had been contemplating this exit for some time, particularly as the U.S. elections unfolded, underscoring the influence X had on electoral conversations.
This growing exodus of media organizations from X occurs amid broader trends wherein users have also begun leaving the platform. Reports indicate X saw its largest-ever account deactivation spike following the recent U.S. presidential elections. Figures indicated over 115,000 users deactivated accounts on the day after the election, marking the largest single-day loss of users since Musk took control.
Meanwhile, alternatives like Bluesky and Meta’s Threads are experiencing surges, with Bluesky reportedly gaining over one million users post-election. This movement reflects users seeking safer spaces online, away from the contentious atmosphere Musk has cultivated on X, as critics claim its impact on society and political dialogue is deeply worrying.
Although La Vanguardia will cease posting content directly on X, they emphasized their commitment to monitoring conversations and developments on the platform to keep the public informed of pertinent discussions. Journalists associated with the publication are still permitted to engage with the site as long as they prioritize human rights and respect within their interactions, reinforcing the notion of responsible digital practices.
The decision by these prominent media outlets to step back from X reveals significant concerns over misinformation, disinformation, and their potential fallout for democratic processes and public discourse. With increasing skepticism about the platform’s influence over news and narratives, the future of communications through platforms like X remains uncertain, as users and media organizations alike reevaluate their engagement with such platforms.
While the migration of users and media entities to alternative platforms marks one section of the story, it also opens the floor to broader questions about the role of technology and social media in shaping public opinion, particularly as more complex issues like governance, freedom of speech, and misinformation continue to emerge as pressing global themes.
