Due to toxicity and disinformation, 2 European newspapers to shun X

International

BRITAIN’S The Guardian and Spain's La Vanguardia have announced they will no longer publish content on Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, citing concerns over the platform’s increasing toxicity and role in spreading disinformation.

On Wednesday, The Guardian stated that it had decided to stop posting on X, labeling the platform a "toxic media space" that harbors “often disturbing content,” including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.

The left-leaning British newspaper, which has nearly 11 million followers on X, explained that its editorial resources could be better utilized elsewhere.

“We think the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives,” The Guardian said in a statement.

It added that the platform had diminished in value, especially during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which underscored the role of Musk’s ownership in shaping political discourse.

The newspaper clarified that its reporters would continue using X and other social media platforms but that the outlet’s official accounts would no longer post content.

While the main Guardian account (@guardian) remains active, it now redirects users to the newspaper's website, signifying its shift away from the platform.

However, The Guardian will still allow X users to share its articles and will occasionally embed content from the platform in its reporting, acknowledging the need for live news updates.

Following this, La Vanguardia, a prominent newspaper based in Barcelona, announced on Thursday that it too would cease posting on X.

The Spanish daily condemned the platform for becoming an “echo chamber” filled with “conspiracy theories and disinformation” due to Musk’s controversial decisions, such as reducing content moderation and reinstating banned accounts.

La Vanguardia also expressed concern about the spread of hateful content and disinformation on the platform, citing viral posts promoting racism and misogyny, as well as the proliferation of bots pushing false narratives, such as misleading reports on Spain's deadly October floods.

Despite ceasing posts, the paper said it would continue to follow people and institutions on X for updates, while its journalists would still be free to use the platform, adhering to ethical guidelines.(CMM)