Green party Groen is the first Flemish party to leave the social media platform X
The Flemish green party Groen has become the first party in Flanders to leave the social media platform X. The party’s leader Bart Dhondt says that since X (the former Twitter) was taken over by the South African-born American businessman Elon Musk it has become a toxic platform. “Musk uses X to promote his own political agenda”.
"Are you still here?” was Groen’s final post on X.
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De Ochtend’, Groen’s leader Bart Dhondt (photo above) said "Since Elon Musk turned Twitter into X we feel that debate on the platform has become less interesting. This is why a couple of months ago we let our account become dormant. X has become a toxic platform rather than a place where you can have interesting exchanges. Groen has had enough and so we are now on Bluesky instead”
What about Facebook and Instagram?
Groen’s decision comes just a few days since its Francophone sister party Ecolo called for X to be blocked until it fully respects European rules regarding moderation and disinformation. Groen doesn’t wish to go that far but says that it is concerned about the current situation.
But what about Facebook and Instagram (Meta) now Mark Zuckerberg has said that his platforms will no longer work with fact checkers in the US?
"We will wait and see how things develop with Meta with regard to European law. But with X there is the additional factor that Musk supports organisations that support hatred against foreigners”.
"He uses X for his own political agenda and has started to meddle in European politics in countries like Germany, the UK and France”.
Exodus
Since Elon Musk took over what was then Twitter 2 years ago various media groups, organisations and individuals have left what has since become X. They cite an increase in disinformation, hate speech and a lack of moderation on the platform as the reason for their decision.