Guardian To Stop Tweeting On Elon Musk-Owned X: Here's Why
While the Guardian’s official accounts will no longer post on X, readers are still free to share its articles there.
The Guardian has decided to cease activity on X, the micro-blogging platform formerly known as Twitter, managed by Elon Musk. This move comes as the publication cites growing unease over content on the platform, particularly in the context of its coverage surrounding the US presidential election.
In an announcement directed at readers, the Guardian stated that the downsides of remaining on X now outweigh any benefits. Notably, the platform has faced criticism for hosting content rife with conspiracy theories and hate speech. According to the Guardian, these issues have led to a long-standing distrust of X, which was amplified by the recent election-related discussions.
'Toxic Media Platform'
The Guardian’s accounts on X have a substantial following — 27 million across more than 80 accounts. However, the organisation highlighted that political discourse on the platform, shaped in part by Musk’s ownership, was contributing to what it described as a “toxic media platform.”
While the Guardian’s official accounts will no longer post on X, readers are still free to share its articles there. The Guardian also noted that posts from X may still feature in its live news updates, and reporters are allowed to use the platform for research and sourcing, subject to internal guidelines.
The Guardian's decision follows similar moves by other organisations. National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS in the US previously stopped posting on X after being labelled as “state-affiliated media.” Recently, the Berlin Film Festival, North Wales Police, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital also ended their use of X, each citing various concerns over the platform's changing atmosphere and content standards.
Acknowledging social media’s role in connecting with audiences, the Guardian emphasised its preference for readers to access its journalism directly via its website. "Our journalism is available and open to all on our website and we would prefer people to come to theguardian.com and support our work there" it said.
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