Let's do it en masse: leave the platform X (formerly Twitter), turn our backs on it. X is owned by one of the richest people in the world, associated with one of the most powerful people in the world, who uses its platform to manipulate public opinion far beyond the borders of the United States.
The more followers on X the more power for Musk the more power for Trump the more undermining of democratic systems worldwide. It is not only about what is said on X by people like Musk and Trump and their friends and other politicians worldwide, it is also about Musk being able to adjust the algorithms of the platform as it suits him, controlling who gets to see and hear what. Using and following X then begins to resemble mass brainwashing. Animal Farm ("four legs good, two legs bad") is nothing like it.
The more followers on X the more power for Musk the more power for Trump the more undermining of democratic systems worldwide
Under Musk's influence, Platform X is politicizing, contributing to the normalization of a political system in which billionaires and tech tycoons have disproportionate influence. A mass outflow would send a signal that society rejects this concentration of power. By leaving X and "moving" to platforms that have no political connection or ownership to an individual, we can contribute to a more democratic digital ecosystem.
This is also important for artists; art is one of the first things to collapse - or be completely instrumentalized - when a democracy begins to falter. It is also very important that institutions, organizations, governments and politicians no longer use a platform that functions as a public space but is de facto in private hands. A platform that is used on the other side of the world for political gain and the erosion of democratic principles.
Increasingly far-right echo chambers avoidable
Recently, there have been more voices calling for the abandonment of X, coming from individuals and from organizations such as Culture Action Europe (they talk about X-odus), the Network of European Museum Organizations (NEMO), and the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) which were featured in the report On digital Ethics for Cultural Organizations explains "how important it is for the cultural sector to withdraw from the big tech sector to maintain autonomy, protect data and the increasingly extreme right-wing echo chambers avoid those that exist on certain platforms, such as X, that work to spread m/desinformation, xenophobia, racism and hate speech."
It seems a matter of time before the above also applies entirely to Facebook and Instagram.
(this editorial was written on Jan. 7, 2025)
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