Civil society leadership organisation ACEVO has joined a raft of charities to quit X, amid concerns around a proliferation of disinformation since Elon Musk took over the social media platform.

In a post this week ACEVO said that “recent changes” at the platform, which Musk changed from Twitter to X, mean it is “is no longer aligned with our values of inclusivity and honesty”.

“We will no longer be actively posting on X and will close our account in November,” it stated, adding that its members are urged to to continue following its accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram.

The move follows growing concern over toxicity on X since billionaire Elon Musk took it over two years ago when it was Twitter.

This has included concern that the number of racist and other offensive posts have increased and complaints are being ignored.

Musk’s recent ‘civil war is inevitable’ post on X during this month’s racist rioting, following the stabbing of three children in Southport, has also caused concern.

ACEVO takes its organisational values very seriously. Recent changes in X mean that this platform is no longer aligned with our values of inclusivity and honesty. We will no longer be actively posting on X and will close our account in November.

— ACEVO (@ACEVO) August 21, 2024

Acevo is one of several charitable organisations to quit X.

Earlier this month Black-led charity the Race Equality Foundation announced its departure from the social media platform

“This decision comes in response to the platform’s role in amplifying disinformation, particularly in relation to the recent unrest in Southport and the North of England,” said the Foundation.

“Despite numerous complaints about racist, Islamophobic, and other discriminatory content, the platform has failed to take adequate action.”

Its chief executive Jabeer Butt added: “It is increasingly difficult for us to remain on a platform that not only tolerates but also amplifies extreme and harmful views.

“In the past, we could report racism on Twitter and expect some action to be taken. However, the surge in unaddressed complaints over the last few months suggests that the platform now views racist abuse as an acceptable, even valuable, form of engagement. This is something we cannot and will not endorse.”

Meanwhile, Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity announced this week that “we've taken the decision to no longer use this platform to share updates”.

We've taken the decision to no longer use this platform to share updates regarding Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity. We would love for you to follow us on Instagram @cihospitalcharity, Facebook @colchesteripswichhospitalscharity and LinkedIn to hear all of our latest news.

— Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity (@cihospcharity) August 20, 2024

In October last year transgender support charity Mermaids left X as the platform “no longer supports” its aim “to embrace and empower trans young people and their families and educate the wider public on the issues they face”.

It added: “For some time now, it has been clear that our values as an organisation are at odds with X, as the platform’s guidelines and company ethics do not encourage a safe, healthy or inclusive environment for our community to engage with us in.”

'More harm to us' to leave

Among charitable organisations remaining on X is think tank the Directory of Social Change.

Its senior digital content and communications officer Gabriella Poznansky acknowledges that “hate proliferated via social media platforms”, including on X and by Musk had “amplified calls to violent action” amid the recent racist rioting.

But “whilst we were tempted to leave, after considerable thought we felt that leaving would cause more harm to us and the sector than staying”, she said.

She added: “It’s not just charities on these platforms, it’s politicians, journalists and influencers, as well as a large proportion of the world and the people we serve. It’s a central forum that even governments don’t want to leave.

“And for all the negativity and hate – there is also a great deal of love and goodness on display. And as a charity, we felt we needed to put our beneficiaries and service users at the heart of our decisions, who are not leaving these platforms in droves.”

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