Concerns over the spread of disinformation and the enabling of political agendas have led several major news outlets to sever ties with X, formerly known as Twitter, under the ownership of Elon Musk. The move comes as media organizations such as Dagens Nyheter, The Guardian, and Spain’s Vanguardia have decided to stop publishing content on the platform. The decision to leave X stems from the perception that the platform has become increasingly intertwined with Musk and Donald Trump’s political ambitions. Critics have pointed out the promotion of disturbing content, far-right conspiracy theories, and racism on the platform as reasons for their departure.
The relationship between media outlets and social media platforms, particularly Twitter, has evolved over the years, with the platform once being seen as essential for building audiences and engaging with readers. However, concerns over the negative impact of social media on journalism, particularly in terms of promoting polemical debate and instant outrage, have led to a reevaluation of the relationship.
While the precise impact of media outlets leaving X is not yet clear, experts suggest that any loss in readership may be limited as the platform generates relatively little traffic to news sites compared to other platforms. The move away from X has also spurred interest in alternative platforms such as Bluesky, a decentralised social media service. The departures from X are seen as a symptom of the failure of democracies to regulate platforms and the need to innovate and create new alternatives to address the spread of disinformation in the digital age.
Source
Photo credit www.ndtv.com
