British newspaper The Guardian announced on Nov. 13 that it will stop posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing concerns over its increasingly toxic environment and the political influence of its owner, Elon Musk.
The decision came after Musk’s recent appointment to a government role under Donald Trump’s upcoming administration.
Musk was appointed to co-lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
This prompted the newspaper to distance itself from what it saw as a compromised space for public discourse.
This move has ignited debate, with critics accusing The Guardian of political bias while others applaud its stance against the platform’s controversial direction.
“We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), the newspaper announced.
The Guardian said concerns about extremist content and misinformation were key factors in its decision to leave the social media platform.
“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 Guardian said.
Some X users responded to this statement with hostility, including those who paid for prominent replies, accusing The Guardian of engaging in “woke” propaganda and virtue signaling.
Despite no longer posting on the platform, The Guardian said that users will still be able to share its articles and that it will continue embedding X posts in its coverage of global events.
It also clarified that its reporters could continue using the platform for news-gathering purposes.
However, it emphasized the belief that the “negatives of being on X now outweigh the benefits.”
This new department aims to streamline government opera- tions and reduce spending along with Vivek Ramaswamy.
The appointment has raised concerns about the merging of political and corporate influence, prompting The Guardian to distance itself from the popular platform with 542 million monthly users.
For The Guardian, this latest development underscores what it describes as the platform’s growing alignment with right-wing ideologies and the erosion of an impartial space for debate.
By stepping away from X, the publication aims to signal its disapproval while focusing its efforts on fostering engagement through alternative platforms better aligned with its editorial values.
Musk, whose leadership has repeatedly drawn scrutiny, continues to dominate headlines not just for his supervision of X, but also for his growing influence in the public and political spheres.
With X reporting 542 million monthly active users globally, its influence on narratives and political discourse is significant, though organizations like The Guardian have raised questions about the platform’s long-term viability as a tool for journalism.
The Guardian’s departure raises questions about the trade-off between maintaining a presence on a widely used platform and adhering to organizational principles.
It is unclear whether this decision will lead to change or deepen divides, but the change reflects the complexities of balancing journalism with the realities of today’s digital world.
