Guardian launches boycott of Twitter citing its 'disturbing content'

The Guardian has launched a boycott of social media platform X, citing 'often disturbing content' such as 'far-right conspiracy theories and racism'.

It said that the recent US presidential election had underlined its view that the online forum, formerly known as Twitter, was a 'toxic media platform'.

Insisting that the benefits of being on the platform were 'now outweighed by the negatives', it added that owner Elon Musk - the world's richest person - had been using the service's influence to 'shape political discourse'.

The boycott means the The Guardian - which has more than 80 accounts and 27 million followers on X - will stop posting from its official editorial accounts on the platform. The main Guardian account on X now says: 'This account has been archived'.

But the move does not stop individual reporters using the site and X users will still be able to share its articles. According to a report by the newspaper, individual reporters will not face restrictions beyond existing guidelines.

In a statement to readers, posted on its website, The Guardian said: 'We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X (formerly Twitter).

'We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere.'

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It added: 'This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.

'The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.'

Musk, who describes himself as a 'free speech absolutist' bought the social media platform in 2022 for $44bn.

The EU and campaigners have raised concerns over the way Musk is running the platform and the type of content that has been allowed on it during his tenure.

Among those previously banned individuals to have been let back on the platform include self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, British far-right figure Tommy Robinson and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Other organisations have also recently quit X, include the Berlin Film Festival and the North Wales police force.

The Guardian statement added: 'X users will still be able to share our articles, and the nature of live news reporting means we will still occasionally embed content from X within our article pages.

'Our reporters will also be able to carry on using the site for news-gathering purposes, just as they use other social networks in which we do not officially engage.

'Social media can be an important tool for news organisations and help us to reach new audiences but, at this point, X now plays a diminished role in promoting our work.'