14 November 2024

The Guardian ceases sharing content on social media platform X

The Guardian has decided to stop sharing its content on X, citing concerns over the platform’s toxic environment and its influence on political conversations, particularly ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

The British newspaper, The Guardian, has made a significant decision to cease sharing its content on the social media platform X, which has been under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk. This decision comes as The Guardian critically evaluates the impact and implications of being active on a platform it describes as increasingly toxic. The newspaper has a considerable following on X, boasting over 27 million followers across 80 different accounts.

In a candid announcement, The Guardian described the social media environment on X as rife with troubling content, citing the presence and promotion of far-right conspiracy theories and content deemed racist. The newspaper expressed concerns over the platform and its potential to influence political conversations, particularly during the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election, a period where public discourse naturally heightens in sensitivity and significance.

The newspaper elaborated on the reasoning behind its decision, stating, “The benefits of being on X no longer outweigh the negatives.” This reflects an ongoing assessment of the costs and advantages of maintaining a presence on a platform perceived to wield considerable influence over information dissemination and political discourse. The Guardian highlighted its confidence in its business model, which is primarily sustained by direct funding from its readers rather than reliance on the reach provided by social media algorithms and viral content.

Despite its exit from sharing content on X, The Guardian noted that third-party users of the platform will still have the capability to share its articles and that the newspaper might continue to integrate content from X into its journalistic work when necessary. This reflects an understanding of the role that X still plays in the broader media ecosystem.

The Guardian is redirecting its audience to its primary website, theguardian.com, which it maintains as the most reliable source for its journalism. The newspaper’s strategy underscores a commitment to an independent funding model, distinct from the traditional reliance on social media platforms for traffic and engagement. This decision reflects an evolving media landscape where news organisations are actively reassessing their digital strategies in response to the changing nature of social media and its impact on public discourse.

Curated, edited, and published by our team, with stories provided by the AI news platform, Noah Wire Services.

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