The Guardian Leaves X, Citing Rise in Racism and Conspiracy Theories Under Musk’s Leadership
The Guardian, a leading UK news outlet, steps away from X due to concerns over hate speech and misinformation on the platform.
On Wednesday, British news outlet The Guardian announced it would stop posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing a rise in “disturbing content” that includes racism and conspiracy theories. With 10.7 million followers on X, The Guardian is the first major UK media organization to retreat from the platform since Elon Musk took over in 2022.
In an editorial on its website, The Guardian explained its decision, stating, “The negatives of being on X now outweigh the benefits, and we believe our resources can be better used to promote our journalism elsewhere.” The move follows growing concern over Musk’s lenient approach to content moderation, which some critics argue has allowed misinformation and harmful content to proliferate.
In response to The Guardian’s decision, Musk commented on X, dismissing the news outlet as “irrelevant.” Musk, who recently voiced support for Donald Trump and has positioned himself as a champion of free speech, was appointed by Trump to a government role aimed at streamlining operations.
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Concerns about X’s role in fueling misinformation have been heightened in the UK this year. A notable example occurred when false social media posts blamed an attack in the town of Southport, where three young girls were tragically killed, on an Islamist migrant. The claims, which spread online, were proven false but led to far-right and racist violence in response, spotlighting the platform’s influence on public sentiment.
The Guardian’s exit aligns with recent moves by other UK institutions, including charities, health organizations, and educational bodies, that have scaled back or stopped their activity on X. Last month, a British police force also stopped posting on the platform, while others are reconsidering their involvement due to the same issues.
While the British government still posts on X, reports indicate that it has paused paid advertisements on the platform, focusing instead on social media outlets like Instagram and Facebook.
