The Guardian has decided to stop posting content on Elon Musk’s X, calling the platform “toxic” due to the prevalence of conspiracy theories and Musk’s influence on shaping political discourse. The British publication, which has over 80 accounts and 27 million followers on X, announced the decision in a note to readers, stating, “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.”
While The Guardian will no longer publish on the platform, X users can still share articles, and the publication’s reporters will continue to use the site for newsgathering purposes.
The note further explained that the U.S. presidential election reinforced their long-standing concerns, with the platform being deemed “toxic” and Musk’s influence seen as a factor in shaping political discourse.
The Guardian’s departure follows NPR’s exit from X last year after Musk labeled it as “state-affiliated media.” Despite Musk’s self-identification as a “free speech absolutist,” he has been vocal in attacking media outlets, often criticizing stories he disagrees with and making unfounded claims about mainstream publications. His aggressive stance has also included lawsuits against advertisers who withdrew from the platform.
The Guardian emphasized that while social media can be a valuable tool for news organizations, X’s role in promoting their work has diminished significantly.