Free Press Leaves Musk's Toxic Twitter

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Free Press joined the ongoing exodus of hundreds of thousands of users from X, including several organizations with sizable followings. In a departure statement, Free Press cited the social network’s transformation into a cesspool of white supremacists, misogynists, conspiracy theorists, far-right propagandists and other extremists.

“Free Press will no longer be posting on X, effective immediately, and we invite you to join us in ceasing activity on Musk’s platform,” the organization wrote in the statement addressed to its million-plus members. “We refuse to give X any legitimacy.” 

According to industry analysts, X has seen a steady decline in active users since Musk took over the platform in 2022. The rate of departures increased this November, with more than 115,000 users leaving X the day following the U.S. election. At the same time, competitive platforms have picked up new users. Bluesky, which became publicly available in February, gained more than a million new users in the week following the election.

Free Press Co-CEO Jessica J. González said: 

“Free Press is committed to ensuring that people have a voice in the decisions that shape our media system. Musk, quite simply, only wants to amplify himself and others who share his far-right, bigoted values. Musk has turned X into a propaganda machine for racists, misogynists, xenophobes, antisemites and transphobes. His continued mismanagement of the platform has endangered people on the receiving end of his abuse and threatened our democracy.

“Through our research, organizing and reporting, Free Press has fought to reform X. We remember the potential that it once had, giving ordinary people the means to speak directly to power and build community. But it’s clear that X will not correct course under Musk’s leadership, and it’s time for Free Press to exit. 

“Social media is valuable because of the human connections we make. It enables us to directly connect and communicate with everyone from loved ones and friends to the most powerful in our society. Free Press and our members have spent a lot of time adding value to X by being on the platform and engaging  with others, even as Musk has shown that he values hate and division over love and connection. We’re ready to bring our value elsewhere, and we invite others to join us.”

Background:
Since Elon Musk purchased the platform in 2022, he’s reinstated the accounts of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists and other bad actors who’ve repeatedly violated X’s own inadequate standards for platform health and safety. 

In November 2022, Free Press and a coalition of allies met with Musk to discuss ways to better protect users from harassment and harm. It quickly became evident that he didn't care about the security of X’s users. A subsequent advertiser boycott, which Free Press co-led, compelled hundreds of the site's most prominent advertisers to cease placements on the platform. Musk responded by  harassing many of the groups that sought to shine a light on his mishandling of the platform, filing or threatening to file lawsuits to silence researchers and activists who have worked to hold him accountable.