MSNBC host Joy Reid and former CNN host Don Lemon have announced their exits from the social media site X, with Lemon stating that it was “time to leave.” The two media personalities cited concerns over the site’s new terms of service and its lack of transparency and free speech.
In a video posted on TikTok and Instagram, Reid announced her departure from X and explained her reasons for doing so. “I hadn’t been posting for a long time, I just didn’t want to contribute content once it was purchased by its present owner,” Reid said. She also expressed concerns about the site being used for “nefarious purposes” and the amount of negativity she had encountered while using it.
Lemon also left the site, claiming the recent changes in the terms of service were the final straw for him. “I once believed it was a place for honest discussion and debate, transparency and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose,” Lemon said, referencing a recent Washington Post report.
The Guardian, a British media outlet, also announced its departure from the site, calling it a “toxic media platform” filled with “racism” and “conspiracy theories.” The Center for Countering Digital Hate also announced its withdrawal from X, stating the new terms of service as the reason.
X was purchased by businessman Elon Musk in 2022 for $44 billion, with a vision to create a “common digital town square” on the site. Musk, who endorsed former President Donald Trump after an assassination attempt, faced backlash from liberal media outlets.
Many users on TikTok suggested Reid join BlueSky, a competing social network that gained over one million users since Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
The departure of Reid and Lemon from X adds to the growing backlash against the site’s changing policies and practices. Despite its initial vision of being a platform for free speech and transparency, it has become a breeding ground for hate speech and misinformation.
X’s purchase by Musk was seen as a glimmer of hope for conservative voices to have a platform to share their views without fear of censorship. However, with the recent changes in the site’s terms of service, it seems that hope has been shattered.
Source: SilverCircular
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