Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia announced Thursday it will stop sharing its news on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, which it described as a “disinformation network.” The decision follows a similar move by The Guardian, which withdrew from X over concerns about “often disturbing content” on the site.
In a statement, La Vanguardia said X had devolved into “an echo chamber” rife with “conspiracy theories and disinformation,” a problem worsened by Musk’s reduction of content moderation and safety protocols since his $44 billion acquisition in 2022. The paper criticized the platform for allowing hate speech, including “ethnic hatred, misogyny, and racism,” to flourish, noting such content generates engagement and revenue.
The Catalan newspaper also highlighted a surge in bot activity spreading misinformation, pointing to India-based accounts posting on Spain’s October floods, which claimed 223 lives.
While La Vanguardia will no longer post directly on X, it will continue monitoring relevant accounts to keep its readers informed on key messages and discussions. Journalists will retain the option to use X, provided they adhere to guidelines supporting human rights and respectful discourse.
Musk, who has used his own account of 205 million followers to endorse political candidates, was recently criticized for sharing misleading posts that some say escalated tensions during the US presidential election.
