(Reuters) – British information writer the Guardian mentioned on Wednesday it’ll not put up 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 strategy has allowed lies and hate speech to unfold on the platform previously generally known as Twitter.
“We expect that the advantages of being on X at the moment are outweighed by the negatives and that sources could possibly be higher used selling our journalism elsewhere,” the Guardian mentioned in an editorial printed on its web site.
“That is one thing we’ve been contemplating for some time given the customarily 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 U.S. election victory this month, has mentioned he’s defending freedom of speech.
Trump on Tuesday named Musk to a job geared toward making a extra environment friendly authorities.
The function of X and different platforms got here below 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 have been killed, was the work of an Islamist migrant.
Reuters was first to report final month {that a} British police power had give up posting on X, with a number of extra reviewing their involvement.
In current months, some British charities, well being and academic institutions have mentioned they’ll not put up to X.
Britain’s authorities continues to put up on X however doesn’t use it for paid communications. It does, nevertheless, promote on Meta’s Instagram and Fb (NASDAQ:), a authorities supply instructed Reuters final month.