A respected left-leaning UK news organization with more than 10 million followers on X announced that it is leaving the platform because of what it calls “disturbing content” and a rapidly rising “climate of hate speech.” That makes The Guardian the first major British media organization to pull back from X since Elon Musk took control of the platform in 2022.
The Guardian published an editorial stating why it was leaving X, “Harmful content, including racism, far-right conspiracy theories, and misinformation amongst others drove this decision.” For the newspaper, there was no genuine cause to continue to stay on X, therefore, it ruled that resources could be used better elsewhere, promoting journalism in spaces that did not harbor such negativity.
This isn’t about The Guardian. Throughout the year we have seen a series of organizations and public figures reassess their presence on X or curb substantial posts in response to dissatisfaction with the site’s reputation that is dragging them down. The main concern here is that X, in its attempt to be the “freedom of speech” platform, has inadvertently allowed some very dangerous and problematic content to thrive.
Why the Guardian is no longer posting on X https://t.co/j4fRgzSYde
— The Guardian (@guardian) November 13, 2024Musk’s “free speech” stance, which he defended strongly, means that nearly everything can be said by the users without clear boundaries. While this might sound appealing in theory, it has, unfortunately, created an environment where things like hate speech, conspiracy theories, and even terrorist content can go viral at lightning speed. For example, Khalistani extremists have used X as a tool to spread anti-India propaganda, and despite the backlash, little action seems to be taken to prevent such misuse.
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Moreover, we have witnessed Elon Musk’s relaxed attitude towards content regulation, which includes even allowing adult content (porn) on the platform. This only worsens the situation, as it attracts users who engage in harmful and inappropriate behavior. The idea of free speech on X has, in many ways, become an excuse for allowing toxic, hateful, and sometimes dangerous content to flourish without any consequences. Musk’s “hands-off” policy has led to a situation where a platform that once was a space for meaningful conversation is now being overrun by aggression, fake news, and disturbing content that does more harm than good.
From my point of view, this strategy of total freedom without regulation isn’t working. I think at the end of the day, what Elon Musk is really doing through his efforts to create a platform where “anything goes” is actually causing more harm than good for the cause of free speech. Over the past year, every time I open X, I am greeted with headlines about murders, hate speech, fake news, and general aggression. It’s concerning to see such harmful trends continuing to grow without intervention.
It’s also disturbing to see how quickly misinformation spreads on X, and how users feel they can get away with just about anything. The space has unfortunately turned out to become a free-for-all, where individuals feel they can say anything without repercussions, which is not good for the quality of discourse. Musk’s approach may be appealing to some users liking a raw, unfiltered environment, but the impact on society, particularly through the spreading of harmful ideologies and radicalization, is depressing.
If one looks at this practically, allowing free speech without any real check has created a breeding ground for extremism, hate, and misinformation. While Musk may say he’s fostering true freedom, by all accounts, the consequences far outweigh the effects, and not in a good way. In fact, I consider X to now be more toxic than a space for meaningful discussion. When you open the platform, it is always trending with violence, hate, and chaos-there’s little to no space that anyone would want to consume.
The decision of The Guardian is but one of the signs that people are gradually realizing there are cracks in Musk’s vision for X. Media organizations, public figures, and even the authorities are now reviewing their relationship with the platform. And it’s not just The Guardian-UK charities and institutions have also stopped posting on X by citing similar reasons. This is even truer to the British government, though still relatively very active on X, which has stopped using the network as a form of paid communication.
Being a long time follower of Elon Musk, I find that there is much more to his activities than an interest in actually bettering public discourse. Recent measures he took, such as telling advertisers to “fuck off” and further lowering the credibility of the platform, suggest that he doesn’t even really care about the future of platform impact on society anymore. He seems only to be keen on defending his points instead of making the forum balance and safe for meaningful dialogue.
I personally believe X, under the leadership of Musk, has become a threat to its users. It no longer resembles the site so many of us enjoyed in our youth for lively debate and useful information. Instead, it feels like a free-for-all in which users are permitted to say whatever they want, even though it hurts. I personally think that what we’ll witness is more individuals as well as organizations being further driven away due to Musk’s management of X unless there’s some sort of change.
I would love to know what you think. Agree with Elon’s “free speech” approach, or it’s high time for X to reconsider policies? Drop your thoughts in comments below!
Analysis by Atul Raj
