Bob Schwartz

“We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our content elsewhere.”
The Guardian

The Guardian newspaper announced that they are no longer posting on X. In part:

We wanted to let readers know that we are no longer posting from any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X (formerly Twitter). We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our content 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 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 Guardian isn’t alone. Other media organizations and X users are also leaving.

You should too. It won’t seem easy. Twitter (its brand before Musk killed the bluebird of happiness) developed into a social media platform that was simple to use and had global reach. The current alternatives have not yet reached its utility. But, and this is the watchword of the moment, we have choices and we can choose. No one said it would be easy to stand up and be counted.

Elections make us think that voting at the ballot box is the only way we can have our voices heard. Every movement that isn’t about elections would beg to differ.

Make a difference. Join the bluebird of happiness and leave X today.