French newspaper with 11m followers and official Paris account with 2m followers quit X

In what has become a familiar narrative, the City of Paris and the iconic French newspaper Le Monde have joined a growing list of high-profile entities stepping away from Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. Their exits underscore an ongoing trend as major brands and public figures distance themselves from a platform they increasingly find incompatible with their values.

The City of Paris has officially quit X, citing the platform’s deteriorating moderation standards and its role in amplifying disinformation and hate speech. In a farewell message, the city’s account expressed frustration to their 2 million followers over the network’s inability to support factual communication. “Complex because the network reduces the reach of factual and objective messages. Impossible because the network fuels hate speech and disinformation, whose lack of moderation has become problematic,” the statement read.

This move follows Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s earlier departure from the platform at the end of 2023. She harshly criticized X, labeling it a “weapon of mass destruction of our democracies.” Her sentiments echoed broader concerns about the platform’s influence under Musk’s ownership.

Le Monde, one of France’s most respected newspapers with 11 million followers, announced its departure from X in an editorial by Editor-in-Chief Jérôme Fenoglio. He articulated growing concerns over the platform’s shift towards political activism, particularly under Musk’s stewardship. Fenoglio pointed out that the platform had become a tool for pushing political agendas, making it increasingly hostile for reliable journalism.

“The intensification of Musk’s activism, the formalization of his function within the Trumpist power apparatus, the growing toxicity of exchanges, lead us to consider that the usefulness of our presence weighs less than the many side effects suffered,” Fenoglio wrote.

These departures from X are not isolated incidents but part of a broader exodus. The German army recently left the platform, citing concerns over Musk’s political entanglements and the spread of disinformation. High-profile figures like Jamie Lee Curtis, Lebron James and Elton Jones Lemon have also deactivated their accounts, decrying the platform’s increasingly toxic environment and political overtones.

As dissatisfaction with X grows, alternative platforms are reaping the benefits. Bluesky, an emerging social media app developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is experiencing a boom in new users seeking a healthier digital environment. With 1 million new users joining daily at its peak, Bluesky represents a significant shift in social media dynamics. And guess what? Le Monde is already on Bluesky.

Paris and Le Monde exiting X is part of a continuing trend where major institutions and public figures are reassessing their digital presence. The platform, once a hub for open dialogue and news dissemination, is increasingly viewed as a space that fosters division and misinformation. This ongoing trend suggests a critical moment for social media, where the values of transparency, moderation, and responsibility are being fiercely debated.

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