British information writer the Guardian stated on Wednesday it’s going to not publish 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 giant UK media firm to retreat from the platform that Elon Musk bought in 2022.
Critics say Musk’s hands-off strategy has allowed lies and hate speech to unfold on the platform previously referred to as Twitter.
“We predict that the advantages of being on X are actually outweighed by the negatives and that sources could possibly be higher used selling our journalism elsewhere,” the Guardian stated in an editorial revealed on its web site.
“That is one thing we have now been contemplating for some time given the usually disturbing content material promoted or discovered on the platform, together with far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”
In response, Musk posted on X and stated of the Guardian: “They’re irrelevant.”
Musk, who supported Donald Trump forward of his U.S. election victory this month, has stated he’s defending freedom of speech.
Trump on Tuesday named Musk to a job aimed toward making a extra environment friendly authorities.
The position of X and different platforms got here underneath the highlight in Britain this 12 months 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.
Reuters was first to report final month {that a} British police drive had stop posting on X, with a number of extra reviewing their involvement.
In current months, some British charities, well being and academic institutions have stated they are going to not publish to X.
Britain’s authorities continues to publish on X however doesn’t use it for paid communications. It does, nevertheless, promote on Meta’s Instagram and Fb, a authorities supply informed Reuters final month.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)