Imagine creating vivid pictures in your mind of enormous herds thundering across the sprawling, arid grasslands – and then announcing in your finest David Attenborough-esque whispered description that we are observing one of Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring and grandest phenomena: an extensive migration.
I may not comprehend the rainfall cues that encourage a multitude of Serengeti wildebeest to desert one feeding ground and migrate to the next in a staggering 1,250-mile loop, one of the miracles of the natural world. However, the reason for a new wave of users switching from X to competing platforms like Bluesky is rather simple.
The incremental exposure to casual prejudice, edgy extremism, deceitful debates, subliminal messages, gross misinformation, questionable pornbots, unscrupulous fraudulent tactics, wild conspiracy theories, and tedious cryptocurrency nonsense became unbearable for some X users. This crescendo of unsavoury elements started shortly after Musk’s purchase of the platform previously known as Twitter in October 2022 and the subsequent renaming to X.
Since then, the acceptance of intolerance has escalated—Case in point, X reinstating in November of the prior year the account of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the extremist right-wing provocateur also known as Tommy Robinson. For some users, though, the final encouragement came in the form of X fostering an encouraging environment for supporters of the far-right hooligans who caused havoc in British cities the following summer. Musk himself proclaimed that a “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, reacting to these violent outbreaks.
Musk – a firm advocate for freedom of speech as long he aligns with it – has piled on the controversy with vitriolic comments about what he refers to as the UK’s “Woke Stasi” reprimanding those who incite violence via social media. The stench from the foul accumulation of fascist dreck has become too much to bear.
X used to be a unique platform. While it had its share of internet trolls, it also brought about genuine wit and enlightenment. Several users hung on, some motivated by optimism, others for numerous other valid reasons. However, at a certain juncture, the festering pile of sludge becomes impossible to ignore.
Quoting Victor Lewis-Smith, using a large platform for the spread of hate speech is akin to having a urine section in a pool. Many Brits, repulsed by Musk’s allowance of this on his platform, have decided to leave, cleanse themselves and seek another social media refuge.
Bluesky, my platform of choice for the last twelve months, might still be a minnow with around 6 million users compared to X’s quarter of a billion daily global users. But, according to a representative from my fairly new hub, Bluesky has attracted approximately 25,000 new users from the UK in the past twelve days. The significant user growth has placed the UK as the global hotspot for new memberships. Even MPs are joining at a commendable speed making it feel, for me, like a bustling and more British-focused space.
I fondly remember when it was known as Twitter, it was something unique. It had its fair share of trolls. Experiencing the internet as a female provides an illuminating perspective of the more primitive societal views. My “block” and “mute” buttons were incessantly active. However, Twitter also offered genuine wit and enlightenment. It harboured real-life communities that were passionate about their niche interests, often guided by genuine experts. I formed friendships, discovered tales, and found Twitter socials to be enjoyable and often coupled with drinks. I even know a pair who met on the platform and eventually got married.
The golden age for me was during the euro-crisis about ten years back. Twitter was instrumental in shaping narratives, driving markets, and analysing debt restructuring intricacies, all while maintaining a humorous undertone. I was a keen user and had a certain pride in my sphere of influence. Being frequently told — “I love you on Twitter,” — was an ego boost that was not easily dismissed.
By the time I left, my following was quite impressive for someone who only joked about finance. My proudest moment was my “vomiting camel” theory of technical market analysis, which was my most significant contribution to human knowledge in over twenty years as a journalist.
X has deteriorated into nothing more than an awful punchline. The trolling has amplified and the muck has become muckier. What started as dog whistles have transformed into blatant signals as X’s content moderation collapsed. The intolerance came to a head when X facilitated an interview between Tucker Carlson, a vociferous rightwing advocate, and renowned misogynist Andrew Tate.
Being a staunch feminist trumps most of my identities and this bypassed my threshold in this so-called “marketplace of ideas”. It’s time to call it a day on X for me. Take a moment and ponder: If X were launched in its present state, would you register?
True, the lack of constant validation in the form of retweets, from a handful to hundreds or even thousands, will be felt, but be assured, you’ll overcome this.
Let’s get one thing straight, If you’re maintaining your presence on X, it doesn’t inherently make you a component of a fascist agenda. A plethora of analysts, independent journalists, and many others depend on X’s audience for their livelihood. Prominent outlets, inclusive of the FT, gain from its extensive reach. Life isn’t flawless and often, knowingly or unknowingly, our everyday choices tend to carry negative external consequences. This isn’t a sermon on perfection.
However, if you’ve come to the juncture where you’re contemplating packing your bags on X, with Musk’s recent escapades as the last straw – bailing permanently rather than out of a fleeting tantrum – Here’s my suggestion on how to sever ties with X.
Take it off at once.
The key lies in mostly quitting cold turkey. Cease posting. Although you might crave the rush from numerous retweets that your witty remarks and declarations attract, believe me, you’ll surmount this. I forwent almost 100,000 X followers and initiated with none (now about 2,000) on Bluesky, choosing to maturely handle it. Most importantly, you’ll quit feeding a platform that constantly craves content, advertisements, and is complacent with a “neutral” stance towards blatant racism.
For the avid news consumer,
For those of us who are hooked on the latest updates, don’t rush to delete your X account yet. This might sound like a cop-out, but it’s simply a practical approach to the current media landscape. Nothing, including new platform Bluesky, can match the fast-paced dissemination and expansive reach of news that X delivers. My usage of X’s search function persisted when following events like UK elections or Team GB Olympic triumphs, despite its infiltration by inappropriate content. It proves useful in monitoring select occurrences, although I never actually post anything.
Embrace the reality that your new chosen platform will have its constraints. For me, Bluesky was more preferable over Mastodon’s cumbersome interface and I couldn’t be bothered to endlessly explore Threads. However, your preference might be different. The point is, you shouldn’t anticipate an immediate transition from one well-established community to another. Be patient.
Bluesky, to me, harks back to the days of Twitter circa 2013. Familiar faces pop up and the engaging discourse, dry wit, and humour that initially hooked me onto the platform are still present. Although on a smaller scale. The experience can sometimes feel akin to tossing messages into a black hole, a faintly self-satisfied and sanctimonious black hole to be precise. Still, I believe that with time, it will garner more users.
Lastly, should you decide to transition, avoid repeating past errors from the old platform, often alluded to as X. Don’t entertain internet trolls or attempt to alter their viewpoints. Life is too fleeting to tolerate harassment or ignorance of destructive misinformation. Frequently use block options, but also actively participate. Contribute to constructive growth.
The decision to move on from X may seem like a challenging ordeal, but it undoubtedly leaves a noticeable void. Only after leaving did I realise how integral the platform was to my confidence. It’s natural to feel disappointment at its current state. If competing platforms end up in a similar state once they gain a substantial user base, they’ll face the same fate – deletion. The proverbial wildebeest may always end up back at the starting point, but believe me when I say, life does exist post-X. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024