Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia quits X due to misinformation and hate

La Vanguardia, a well-known Spanish newspaper, has decided to stop publishing its content on the social media platform X, which it claims has turned into a "disinformation network." 

This decision comes after the platform, owned by Elon Musk, has been accused of spreading misinformation, hate, and conspiracy theories without effective moderation.

X, which was formerly known as Twitter, has been criticized for its role in spreading harmful content. La Vanguardia, based in Barcelona, shared that the platform has become a "echo chamber" where fake news and dangerous ideas spread quickly. 

They mentioned that content promoting hatred against ethnic minorities, women, and other groups has gone viral on X. These harmful posts often get more attention and generate more money for the platform through advertising.

Musk, the owner of X, has described himself as a "free speech absolutist," which means he believes in allowing all kinds of speech, even if it is harmful or false. After buying X in 2022 for $44 billion, Musk made several big changes, including laying off many workers, including those who managed content moderation. 

He also allowed conspiracy theorists and controversial figures back on the platform.

According to La Vanguardia, the decision to leave X came after the news of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointing Musk to lead a new department called the "Department of Government Efficiency." 

This department's goal is to restructure U.S. federal agencies and reduce spending. The newspaper also pointed out the increasing number of fake accounts, or "bots," flooding X with misleading information. One example they gave was the huge number of fake accounts talking about the deadly floods in Spain this month, which killed over 200 people.

The newspaper’s editorial team expressed that since Elon Musk took control of X, the platform has become filled with "toxic and disorienting content." They said this type of content has become overwhelming and hard to ignore. La Vanguardia believes this is damaging to the quality of information shared with the public.

Even though La Vanguardia has decided to stop posting its own content on X, it will still use the platform to follow users, businesses, and institutions to keep its readers updated on what’s happening. The journalists at La Vanguardia will also still be allowed to use X, but only under strict guidelines that protect human rights and freedom of speech. This ensures that the content they share is responsible and respectful.

In similar news, the British newspaper The Guardian also announced this week that it would stop posting content on X for similar reasons. 

The Guardian mentioned that it had been thinking about leaving the platform for a while but decided to act after the U.S. election highlighted the negative effects of the platform. The Guardian called X a "toxic media platform" and said that Musk’s control over it has allowed him to shape political discussions in a way that may not be healthy for democracy. 

They believe that the downsides of using X now outweigh any benefits and that the newspaper's time and resources would be better spent promoting journalism on other platforms.

Both La Vanguardia and The Guardian’s decisions reflect growing concerns about the impact of X on public discourse. 

These newspapers are taking a stand against the spread of harmful content, fake news, and misinformation that can harm society and mislead people.

It’s clear that social media platforms, like X, are facing increasing pressure to better manage the content they allow to spread. Many believe that changes are needed to ensure platforms are used in ways that benefit everyone, not just a few people or interests.