Several key political figures, including Roland Lescure and Benoît Hamon, are leaving the social network X, citing its toxic environment for democratic discourse post-Elon Musk’s acquisition. Paris leads local authorities in this exodus, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressing concerns over the platform’s impact on public debate. A collective exit is planned for January 20, coinciding with Donald Trump’s inauguration. Initiatives like ‘HelloQuitteX’ aim to facilitate users’ transition to alternatives like BlueSky, as concerns grow over misinformation and extremist content on X.
Political Figures Departing From X
Several prominent political figures, including Roland Lescure, Benoît Hamon, Sandrine Rousseau, Yannick Jadot, and Christian Estrosi, are making headlines as they leave the social network X. This exodus, which has already begun for some, reflects a growing sentiment among public figures and local authorities who are distancing themselves from the platform, previously known as Twitter. Many deem it toxic for democratic discourse, especially following its acquisition by Elon Musk. A significant date for this mass departure is set for Monday, January 20, coinciding with the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, who had Musk in mind for a government position focused on ‘government efficiency.’
Local Authorities Join the Movement
The city of Paris is among those leading the charge, officially exiting X on the aforementioned date. Mayor Anne Hidalgo has previously withdrawn from the platform in 2023, expressing concerns over X’s ‘drift’ and the detrimental impact of its algorithms on public debate. Patrick Bloche, the first deputy to the mayor, highlighted that the growing toxicity of X inhibits balanced discussions and has raised alarms regarding its potential interference in the democratic processes of nations like Germany and the UK. Paris, being the most-followed local authority in France with 2.2 million followers, has been actively engaged on the platform since 2009.
Other local authorities, such as Poitiers, Pantin, Le Mans, Tours, and various regional governments including Brittany and New Aquitaine, are also distancing themselves from X. Loïg Chesnais-Girard, president of the Brittany Region, emphasized the threat posed by false and hateful statements proliferating on the platform since Musk’s takeover. Franck Leroy, president of the Grand Est region, announced the deactivation of both his personal and institutional accounts, citing Musk’s controversial support for extremist movements and the platform’s facilitation of fake news. The City of Le Mans has echoed these sentiments, criticizing the lack of moderation and the spread of conspiracy theories that undermine democratic values.
In response to this growing movement, the ‘HelloQuitteX’ initiative has emerged, urging a collective exit from X on January 20. This French citizen-science project has even developed an application to assist users in migrating to alternative social networks while retaining their contacts. Local authorities such as Le Mans and the Landes department are encouraging their followers to transition to BlueSky, a rising competitor to X, which has seen an influx of new users in recent months.
As local authorities navigate their departure from X, the strategies vary. For instance, Brittany’s account may display a flat electrocardiogram to signify its status while remaining accessible to prevent identity theft. In contrast, Tours plans to limit its X usage to ‘exceptional needs’ like crisis communication, while Haute-Vienne has completely exited the platform.
Despite the visible trend of departures, experts caution that there isn’t a universal movement away from X. Yves Charmont notes that many officials face challenges in maintaining connections with constituents who still rely on the platform for information, particularly in rural areas where Facebook remains the dominant social network.