Par
Juliette Cardinale
Published on
Jan 19, 2025 at 4:36 p.m.
“On January 20 I leave X,” launched Pierre Hurmic in a publication on the social network by Elon Musk. If the mayor of Bordeaux has not argued the reasons which push him to leave the old Twitter, he is part of a major movement.
“The algorithms of the X platform favor controversial and shocking content, often to the detriment of balanced communication and fair information,” said the city of Libourne on Saturday, which is also leaving the social network.
A mass departure?
On Wednesday January 15, more than 80 associations, including The Human Rights League and Emmaüs France, announced that they were fleeing the billionaire's network deemed “dangerous” for democracy. By supporting the “HelloQuitteX” initiative (which allows you to leave with your subscribers), they call on politicians, institutions, media and citizens to quitter X this Monday.
January 20 is a symbolic date, corresponding to the inauguration the Donald Trump for the presidency of the United States. As a reminder, the 47th US president has named billionaire Elon Musk as co-minister for government efficiency.
The rise of new networks
On X, the account of the mayor of Bordeaux accumulates more than 16,7000 subscribers this Sunday. “Find me on Bluesky”, underlined Pierre Hurmic. The city of Libourne also chose the Bluesky platform which meets its “requirements of transparency and respect” to continue to communicate.
This « migration » towards the Bluesky and Mastodon networks has already been happening in waves for several years: after the takeover by Elon Musk in 2022 then the victory of Donald Trump in November, in particular.
-Institutions that have already left
Before Pierre Hurmic and the city of Libourne, the Bordeaux University Hospital, the IUT of Bordeaux, the University of Bordeaux and the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne, the regional council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine had already left the network led by the American billionaire.
Other institutions, securities presse or Gironde figures have also left X, like the Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts or our colleagues from South West et Rue89bordeaux.
Will the movement continue in Gironde? The city of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Métropole, TBM or even ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine have not announced their departures from the network, but have all created accounts Bluesky.
A network less used than others
If the actions of Elon Musk and the transformation of X (formerly Twitter) push many users to leave the network, the debate remains in the minority in France. According to the latest data, around 12 million users were using X last November. The 5th social network, far behind Facebook's 33.4 million monthly users in 2023.
No account creation for the moment on the side of the prefecture of Gironde, while government spokesperson Sophie Primas declared to our colleagues to West France that leaving X was “not relevant” for the government.
SO real Girondin exodus or minority departures? We will probably see more clearly in the coming weeks. Without forgetting that the European Commission is currently investigating X, suspected of manipulating public debate in Europe.
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