Two prominent liberal media figures, MSNBC host Joy Reid and former CNN host Don Lemon, announced their departures from the social media site X on Wednesday. Reid claimed she had not posted on X in “a long time” and used it strictly for newsgathering. Lemon, however, stated that he was leaving because the site no longer served its original purpose of promoting honest discussion and free speech.
In a video posted on TikTok and Instagram, Reid claimed she had decided to leave X due to its new ownership by Elon Musk, who she believes has turned the platform into a hub for “dreary,” “abusive,” and “negative” content. Lemon echoed these sentiments, stating that the recent changes in the site’s terms of service were the final straw for him.
Both Reid and Lemon’s departures follow a similar move by the British media outlet The Guardian, which announced it would no longer actively post on X due to its allowance of “racism” and “conspiracy theories.” Another British non-profit, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, also announced its departure from the site on Thursday, citing the new terms of service as the reason.
X’s change in ownership came in October 2022, when Elon Musk purchased the social media giant for $44 billion with the intention of creating a “common digital town square.” Despite Musk’s initial vision for the platform, many users and industry experts believe that X has become increasingly toxic and divisive under his leadership.
Interestingly, both Reid and Lemon’s exits from X come just days after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. Musk, who has endorsed Trump in the past, may see this as a turning point for the controversial leader and his supporters to reclaim a space on social media.
In light of the recent departures from X, many users have suggested that Reid and Lemon join BlueSky, a competing social network that has gained over one million users since Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. With political tensions on the rise and the fight for freedom of speech becoming more urgent, BlueSky may provide a safer and more welcoming environment for liberal voices like Reid and Lemon.
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
