British news outlet The Guardian announced on Wednesday its decision to stop posting on X due to the presence of ‘toxic content,’ such as racism and conspiracy theories on the social media site.
Known for its left-leaning stance and having 10.7 million followers on X, The Guardian is the first major UK media organization to withdraw from the platform since its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022.
Observers have criticized Musk’s laissez-faire policy, claiming it allows the proliferation of falsehoods and hate speech on the site, formerly known as Twitter.
The Guardian explained in an editorial on its website that the drawbacks of maintaining a presence on X now surpass the benefits, suggesting that their efforts could be more effectively directed toward promoting their journalism on other platforms.
The decision has been under consideration for some time, triggered by frequent encounters with objectionable content on the site, including extreme right-wing conspiracy theories and racist posts.
In a retaliatory comment on X, Musk dismissed The Guardian as ‘irrelevant.’
Additionally, former CNN anchor Don Lemon has decided to leave Musk’s social media platform, as he shared in a post on X on Wednesday.
‘I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose,’ said Lemon.
In March, Lemon disclosed that his partnership with X was terminated by Musk shortly after an interview with the tech mogul.
Musk, who endorsed Donald Trump in the recent U.S. election, maintains that he is upholding the principle of free speech. Following the election, Trump appointed Musk to a position focused on streamlining government operations.
This year, X and other social media platforms drew significant attention in Britain following a surge of far-right and racist violence.
The unrest was sparked by false online claims that an Islamist migrant was responsible for a tragic incident in Southport, northern England, where three young girls lost their lives.
Reuters reported last month that a British police force had stopped using X, with others considering similar actions.
Recently, various British charities, healthcare, and educational bodies have opted out of posting on X.
While the British government remains active on X, it has ceased paid advertising on the platform, preferring to invest in advertising on Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, according to a government source cited by Reuters last month.
