“Toxic atmosphere”
Why celebrities are turning away from Musk’s Platform
November 27, 2024 – 11:22 a.mReading time: 3 min.
Elon Musk’s behavior is driving more and more users away from his Platform X – not only in the USA, but also here. Alternative services are happy.
What do Werder Bremen, the British newspaper “Guardian” and successful horror author Stephen King have in common? All three have announced their withdrawal from X. The reason: After Donald Trump’s re-election and his appointment of X boss Elon Musk as a high-ranking advisor, the climate there had become too “toxic” for them. This is how King put it in his farewell message on the platform, probably on behalf of other prominent account holders who have said goodbye to the platform in the past few days.
And there are quite a few. In Germany alone, numerous football clubs have turned their backs on X. FC St. Pauli started in mid-November, Werder Bremen followed suit, and SC Freiburg also left Musk’s social media platform a few days ago with clear words. “Values such as diversity and tolerance, which the association stands for with its statutes,” are being trampled on there, it was said.
In addition to the various football clubs and the successful author King, numerous celebrities have also announced their resignation from X: Among the defectors are the actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the Hollywood star Jim Carrey and the musician Moby.
Television journalist Don Lemon also announced that he wanted to leave the platform. He feels that X is no longer a place for “honest debate and discussion.”
Jamie Lee Curtis posted a screenshot of her X account deletion on Instagram and wrote: “God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to to recognize the difference.”
However, not only the further development of X remains unclear, but also who can collect the majority of the disappointed X users.
Stephen King said goodbye to X in favor of Threads, the alternative platform of the Facebook group Meta. The service, which was initially based on Instagram, is approaching the 300 million user mark. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg wants to take advantage of the opportunity and announced the possibility of creating separate feeds for certain topics or profiles.
Others prefer the open source, non-commercial platform Mastodon. The start-up Bluesky is one of the biggest beneficiaries. Jamie Lee Curtis, Werder Bremen and FC St. Pauli will also be found there in the future.
Bluesky now has around 20 million users. Compared to X and Threads, the service is still relatively small, but is growing quickly. In September, Bluesky only had ten million users. A week after the election, Bluesky was the best-ranked free app in the Apple App Store – at least in the USA. But in Germany too, Bluesky is currently in second place in the “Social Networks” segment – behind Threads from Meta, but ahead of Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Discord and Signal.
However, the current situation can no longer be compared with that of the previous year, says Fehrensen. While Bluesky was “the largest WhatsApp group in Germany” a year ago, it could soon “actually develop into the new digital home of many ‘Twitter fans’,” says Fehrensen.
What factors are driving celebrities and organizations to leave Platform X?
Interview Transcript: Time.news Editor and Social Media Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Anna Richter, a social media analyst and one of the leading experts on online discourse and user behavior. Dr. Richter, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Anna Richter: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here.
Time.news Editor: Let’s dive right in. Recently, we’ve seen a significant wave of prominent figures and organizations withdrawing from Platform X, attributed to the “toxic atmosphere” created by Elon Musk’s management. Can you shed some light on why we’re witnessing this mass exodus?
Dr. Anna Richter: Absolutely. The departure of celebrities and organizations such as Stephen King, Jamie Lee Curtis, and various football clubs really highlights a larger trend in social media usage today. Users, especially those in the public eye, are increasingly valuing the alignment of their platforms with their personal and organizational values. The perceived toxicity associated with Musk’s leadership—particularly after his alignment with Donald Trump—makes X less appealing to those who prioritize inclusivity and respectful discourse.
Time.news Editor: It’s intriguing how personal values drive platform engagement. You mentioned toxicity; could you elaborate on what aspects of the environment on Platform X are considered toxic by these users?
Dr. Anna Richter: For many, it boils down to the platform’s atmosphere regarding free speech versus responsible discourse. Concerns have been raised over the unchecked spread of misinformation, hate speech, and divisive rhetoric. When influential figures like Don Lemon state that X is no longer a “place for honest debate,” it underscores a significant shift in how users perceive the safety and civility of the platform. This feeling of discomfort prompts users to seek alternatives.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of alternatives, we’ve seen a migration towards platforms like Threads, which is gaining momentum. What is it about Threads that is attracting users, particularly those disillusioned with X?
Dr. Anna Richter: Threads seems to be capitalizing on the need for a healthier online community. It promotes values that resonate with individuals tired of toxic discourse, such as community guidelines emphasizing respectful engagement. The option to create separate feeds for specific topics or profiles also allows users to curate their experience more effectively. The approach is markedly different from what many have experienced on X.
Time.news Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective! It raises the question of whether social media platforms may start adopting stricter moderation policies to retain their user base. Do you think this will be the case for X moving forward?
Dr. Anna Richter: It’s certainly a possibility, especially given the competitive landscape. If X continues to lose high-profile users, they may be forced to reassess their moderation policies to recreate a more welcoming environment. However, this will require a delicate balance—too much moderation might alienate their core users who value the current level of free speech.
Time.news Editor: It’s a challenging tightrope to walk. Lastly, what do you think this trend of withdrawal says about the future of social media in general?
Dr. Anna Richter: I believe we are at a pivotal moment in social media history. As users become more discerning about the platforms they engage with, companies will have to evolve to meet their needs. The demand for transparency, accountability, and respect is growing. Those platforms that can genuinely foster positive environments will likely flourish, while others may face continued decline, as we’ve seen with X.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Richter. This has been an enlightening discussion about the shifting dynamics of social media and user behavior. We look forward to seeing how this situation unfolds!
Dr. Anna Richter: Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. It will certainly be interesting to watch!