The Guardian has announced it will no longer post from its official editorial accounts on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The decision, effective immediately, follows a long assessment of the platform's content and the influence of its owner, Elon Musk.
In a statement, the newspaper said the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives, citing “often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.” It added that the US presidential election campaign underscored its view that X is a “toxic media platform” and that Musk has used his influence to shape political discourse.
Despite the withdrawal, X users will still be able to share Guardian articles, and reporters may continue using the site for news-gathering purposes, similar to other social networks where the Guardian does not officially engage. Live news reporting may also occasionally embed X content within articles.
The Guardian noted that social media can be an important tool for reaching new audiences, but X now plays a diminished role in promoting its work. The newspaper encourages readers to access its journalism directly on its website, theguardian.com, and support its work there. It emphasised that its business model relies on reader funding rather than viral content tailored to social media algorithms.
