Spanish daily La Vanguardia announced it would cease publishing on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk. The decision, which aligns with similar actions taken by prominent publications like Britain’s The Guardian, underscores growing concerns about misinformation, platform moderation, and the spread of harmful content. La Vanguardia pointedly criticized X as a “disinformation network,” highlighting the challenges posed by Musk’s overhaul of the platform’s content moderation policies and its alleged role in amplifying hate speech, conspiracy theories, and targeted disinformation.
Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 signaled a new era for the platform, marked by radical restructuring and a rebranding to X. Musk’s approach dismantled many content moderation mechanisms in favor of what he called “freedom of speech.” However, this open approach quickly encountered backlash as it allowed a surge of previously restricted or moderated voices. La Vanguardia pointed out that instead of creating a space for free speech, X had morphed into an “echo chamber” for misinformation, conspiracy theories, and hate-fueled content that would otherwise have had limited reach with “effective and reasonable moderation.”
La Vanguardia, a respected Catalan news outlet known for its centrist stance and balanced reporting, made the announcement a day after The Guardian similarly decided to halt promotion on X. The British newspaper cited the platform’s proliferation of “often disturbing content” as the primary reason for its departure. La Vanguardia shared similar sentiments, explaining that X had transformed into a space where dangerous narratives about ethnic minorities, women, and various marginalized groups circulated unchecked. With moderation efforts slashed, La Vanguardia argued, X had inadvertently created a space where these voices could thrive, unchecked by previous content guidelines.
The move by these prominent publications reflects a larger trend of news organizations reassessing their relationship with social media platforms that fail to uphold community standards and safety. By stepping away from X, La Vanguardia is signaling its commitment to journalistic integrity and a desire to maintain public trust by dissociating itself from an environment increasingly linked to misinformation.
Since Musk took the reins of Twitter in 2022, he has instituted sweeping changes that reduced the platform’s trust and safety teams, significantly affecting its ability to enforce content moderation. The changes included layoffs of personnel responsible for addressing online abuse, hate speech, and misinformation, which many saw as a cost-cutting measure as well as an ideological stance against what Musk has described as “censorship.”
Critics argue that Musk’s policies reflect a misunderstanding of “free speech” principles and have weakened the platform’s safeguards, making it more vulnerable to hate speech and disinformation. The consequences of Musk’s changes were evident in the content that gained traction on X, as noted by La Vanguardia. The paper highlighted examples of viral posts promoting racism, misogyny, and xenophobia that not only violated community standards but also human rights.
For La Vanguardia, the proliferation of content that incites hatred and division is a direct result of Musk’s laissez-faire approach. The newspaper argued that such content has become a revenue generator as it drives user engagement, which in turn benefits advertisers and the platform financially. This economic incentive, they claimed, further exacerbates the issue, making it unlikely that X would reverse course on moderation.
La Vanguardia also voiced concerns about the increasing number of bot accounts and the spread of disinformation via foreign-based accounts, specifically referencing recent comments on Spain’s October floods. The floods, which have been particularly devastating, have reportedly been exploited by bots from India that disseminate false information and manipulate public discourse. This aspect of X’s environment exemplifies how the platform can be used to influence narratives and sow discord within national and international audiences.
According to La Vanguardia, the presence of bots and foreign actors amplifying tragedies like the floods is another indicator of how poorly X manages content integrity. Under Musk, the platform’s capacity to prevent bot activity has diminished, leading to a situation where, according to critics, X is less of a “town square” for free expression and more of an “echo chamber” where disinformation spreads rapidly.
The changes made by Musk have reignited the debate about the balance between free speech and harm prevention on social media. Musk’s vision of X as a platform for unrestricted expression contrasts sharply with the positions of traditional media outlets and advocacy groups, who warn of the dangers of leaving harmful content unchecked.
In its announcement, La Vanguardia emphasized that free speech must coexist with responsibilities, especially when human rights are at stake. The newspaper argued that while freedom of speech is essential, it does not justify the proliferation of hate speech, racism, and sexism under the guise of open discourse. This sentiment echoes concerns from civil society organizations that platforms like X must take an active role in curbing harmful content to protect vulnerable communities.
The exodus of media outlets from X also raises questions about how news organizations will reach audiences in the digital age without relying on popular social media platforms. With X being one of the major distribution channels for news, media outlets now face a challenge: how to maintain their reach while distancing themselves from platforms that no longer align with their ethical standards.
La Vanguardia noted that while it would halt the direct publication of its articles on X, it would still monitor activities on the platform to track important events and public discussions. Its journalists will have the freedom to use X as long as they adhere to guidelines that uphold human rights and freedom of expression. This approach allows the newspaper to maintain a connection to X without fully disengaging from the conversations that happen on the platform.
For readers, this means that while La Vanguardia will not post its articles on X, it will continue to inform its audience of key conversations on the platform, with journalists exercising caution to avoid contributing to the problematic dynamics they have criticized.
The influence Musk wields over X also has significant political implications. During the recent U.S. presidential election, Musk openly endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, using his considerable follower base to advocate for his victory. This overt partisanship marked a departure from the platform’s traditionally neutral stance and attracted criticism from various quarters, especially given the level of misinformation accompanying the endorsement.
For La Vanguardia and other publications, Musk’s actions blurred the lines between a social media platform and a partisan instrument, raising ethical concerns about how social media moguls influence democratic processes. Critics argue that Musk’s involvement in politics through X threatens to compromise the platform’s role as a space for unbiased public discourse, with journalists and media organizations wary of becoming part of this dynamic.
The departure of La Vanguardia and The Guardian from X reflects broader tensions between traditional media and social media giants. As platforms like X reduce content oversight, traditional media outlets face mounting pressure to reconsider their partnerships. Media organizations are increasingly opting to prioritize their editorial integrity over exposure on platforms that fail to manage harmful content responsibly.
This trend may encourage other news outlets to take similar action, particularly as the digital advertising market becomes less reliant on any single platform. By choosing to step away from X, La Vanguardia and The Guardian are paving the way for a new media approach that values credibility and responsibility over reach and engagement.
