Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, social media platform X (formerly Twitter) saw an unprecedented user departure, with over 115,000 deactivations from U.S. users the day after the election, as reported by CNN. This count only includes users deactivating via the web, with the actual number potentially higher when factoring in mobile app users. Many have shifted to alternative platforms like Bluesky, which has experienced rapid growth, doubling its user base to 15 million within three months and seeing a surge of 1 million new sign-ups in a single week.
The exodus aligns with increasing concern over Elon Musk’s visible support for Trump on X, with Musk actively using the platform to campaign for the President-elect. Researchers have noted a rise in offensive content on X, including sexist language, while Musk’s prior moves—such as slashing content moderation, reactivating banned accounts, and changing verification to favor paid subscribers—have led to a decline in X’s advertising revenue. High-profile journalists like the New York Times’ Mara Gay and former CNN anchor Don Lemon have publicly announced their departure from X, joining a wave of users seeking less polarizing social media spaces.
British news outlet The Guardian also revealed its decision to cease activity on X, expressing that Musk’s platform has become increasingly “toxic” and stating that X now detracts more than it adds to their mission. The Guardian will discontinue posting from its official accounts, though it noted that its journalists may still use X for news gathering, and readers can share Guardian articles from the platform. The publication has over 80 accounts on X with approximately 27 million followers but emphasized that resources would now be redirected to promote journalism on more supportive platforms.
