Petr Jedlička: Musk, trolling, and toxicity. More and more people are leaving the X platform

Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025

Massive exodus from X (Twitter) following Musk’s takeover, driven by content changes and political shifts.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022, there have been successive waves of departures from the platform, initially triggered by his takeover and later amplified by his alignment with Trump-like figures. While some high-profile departures include Spanish politicians like Yolanda Diazova following a Nazi salute, the trend encompasses media outlets such as La Vanguardia and The Guardian, organizations like Greenpeace, and celebrities. Initially valued for its rapid dissemination of political and civic views, X has undergone significant changes under Musk, including layoffs, paid verification, and relaxed filters against disinformation and hate speech. This shift has led to a rise in content reflecting conspiracy theories and narratives aligning with Trump’s rhetoric and far-right European perspectives, making the platform an epicenter for disinformation during US elections. Although some departures are noted as being from progressive or left-leaning viewpoints, the overall exodus is substantial across various demographics, including right-liberals and centrists, affecting users in the US and EU. While X remains a large platform with significant global user bases, its economic viability is questionable, and observers suggest it may trend toward highly polarized environments similar to Truth Social if current trends persist.


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