Editorial

PUBLIC SQUARE UK joins BlueSky amid concerns over X’s direction

PUBLIC SQUARE UK is leaving X, formerly Twitter, citing its promotion of extremism and poor moderation, opting for BlueSky to uphold its values of informed debate, tolerance, and critical thinking.



PUBLIC SQUARE UK joins BlueSky amid concerns over X’s direction
Credit: Dreamstime/Yalcinsonat

I n a decisive move reflecting its editorial values, PUBLIC SQUARE UK has announced its departure from the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, opting instead for BlueSky. The decision underscores the publication’s commitment to fostering informed debate and countering the spread of misinformation.

The shift comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and Elon Musk’s public support for the controversial former US president.

According to a statement from PUBLIC SQUARE UK, X has evolved into a “platform for political propaganda, extremism, violence, hate speech, and the promotion of far-right libertarian ideology.” The publication further criticised the platform’s ineffective moderation, which it claims enables the spread of harmful content.

— BlueSky is a healthier and more respectful environment.

Explaining its move, PUBLIC SQUARE UK praised BlueSky as a “healthier and more respectful environment” that aligns with its mission to promote tolerance and critical thinking. The newer platform has been lauded for its more robust moderation policies and increasing engagement from reputable organisations, experts, scientists, journalists, and media outlets.

This transition reflects broader concerns about the role of social media in shaping public discourse, with PUBLIC SQUARE UK positioning itself firmly against what it sees as X’s drift into dangerous territory.

For more details, visit PUBLIC SQUARE UK on BlueSky.

PUBLIC SQUARE UK



Sources:

▪ This piece was first published in PUBLIC SQUARE UK on 29 November 2024 under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.
Cover: Dreamstime/Yalcinsonat.