Spain's 'La Vanguardia' exits X, citing rise in toxic content

Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia announced it will cease publishing on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the platform as a “disinformation network.”

Owned by Elon Musk, X has reportedly become an "echo chamber" amplifying conspiracy theories, misinformation, and divisive content without effective moderation, the Barcelona-based paper said Thursday.

The newspaper expressed concern over viral posts on X, citing “hatred of ethnic minorities, misogyny, and racism” as content that thrives due to lax oversight, ultimately generating higher ad revenue.

Musk, who acquired X in 2022 for $44 billion, drastically reduced the content moderation team and has frequently opposed restrictions on speech beyond legal requirements.

La Vanguardia's decision to leave X follows the platform’s “growing presence of bots” and an increase in fake accounts, which the paper highlighted in discussions on recent devastating floods in Spain.

It will, however, maintain monitoring activities on X for informational purposes, while its journalists will adhere to professional guidelines when using the platform.

This move follows the UK’s The Guardian's decision to leave the platform on Wednesday, which cited the US election and Musk’s influence over political discourse as key reasons. The Guardian also declared X a “toxic media platform,” concluding that its resources could be better utilised on other platforms.