British information writer The Guardian mentioned on Wednesday it’ll now not submit to X, citing “disturbing content material” on the social media platform, together with racism and conspiracy theories.
The left-leaning Guardian, which has 10.7 million followers on X, turns into the primary massive UK media firm to retreat from the platform that Elon Musk bought in 2022.
Critics say Musk’s hands-off method has allowed lies and hate speech to unfold on the platform previously often called Twitter.
“We expect that the advantages of being on X are actually outweighed by the negatives and that sources may very well be higher used selling our journalism elsewhere,” The Guardian mentioned in an editorial printed on its web site.
“That is one thing we now have been contemplating for some time given the often-disturbing content material promoted or discovered on the platform, together with far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”
In response, Musk posted on X and mentioned of The Guardian: “They’re irrelevant.” Musk, who supported Donald Trump forward of his US election victory this month, has mentioned he’s defending freedom of speech. Trump on Tuesday named Musk to a task geared toward making a extra environment friendly authorities.
Highlight
The position of X and different platforms got here beneath the highlight in Britain this yr when far-right and racist violence broke out after on-line posts falsely claimed that an assault within the northern English city of Southport, the place three younger ladies had been killed, was the work of an Islamist migrant.
Final month, a British police pressure stop posting on X, with a number of extra reviewing their involvement. In latest months, some British charities, well being and academic institutions have mentioned they may now not submit to X.
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Britain’s authorities continues to submit on X however doesn’t use it for paid communications. It does, nevertheless, promote on Meta’s Instagram and Fb, a authorities supply mentioned final month. — Andy Bruce, (c) 2024 Reuters
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