The Guardian Bids Farewell to Elon Musk’s X, Citing “Toxic” Environment

The Guardian has announced it will cease posting content on X (formerly Twitter), citing the platform’s increasingly toxic nature and its owner Elon Musk’s influence on political discourse. The British newspaper group expressed concerns over the platform’s role in shaping political narratives, particularly following the US presidential election, where Musk’s backing of Donald Trump raised alarms about the direction of the platform.

In a statement to its readers, The Guardian explained that while users would still be able to share articles and X posts could be embedded in the newspaper’s coverage, it had become clear that the negative aspects of the platform outweighed its benefits. The paper specifically pointed to the disturbing content that has proliferated on X, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism, which led to the decision.

“We have been considering this for a while, given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform,” the newspaper wrote, noting that its reporters would still use X for news-gathering purposes.

This move signals a shift in The Guardian’s stance on social media platforms under Musk’s ownership. Musk’s support for Trump, who is poised to play a major role in the incoming administration, has only deepened the newspaper’s concerns about the direction of X.

The announcement was met with backlash on the platform, with some users accusing The Guardian of engaging in “woke propaganda” and “virtue signaling.” Critics, many of whom paid for prominent replies, expressed frustration with the paper’s decision.

However, The Guardian’s move also serves as a statement of opposition to Trump’s political influence. It further positions the publication as a key player in the “resistance” to the former president’s policies, with its fundraising efforts following the election proving to be highly successful. In the days following the election, The Guardian saw a surge of donations, raising over $1.8 million in a single day.

This decision by The Guardian comes at a time when other platforms, such as Meta’s Threads and Bluesky – founded by Twitter’s original creator Jack Dorsey—are gaining momentum. While Bluesky’s user base has rapidly expanded, it remains small compared to X, with only 15 million global users. Still, its growing popularity highlights the shifting landscape of social media as users seek alternatives to X.