Mermaids quits X and launches TikTok account

Transgender support charity Mermaids will no longer post content on X amid concerns the social media platform formerly known as Twitter is no longer a safe environment for its supporters and beneficiaries.

“At Mermaids, we are committed to using our social media platforms to support our charitable aims to embrace and empower trans young people and their families and educate the wider public on the issues they face,” said the charity in a statement.

“We believe that as a platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, no longer supports these aims.”
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.

“For these reasons, we have made the decision to step back from the platform.”

The charity says the account will remain active as “an archive for those seeking information and support” but it will no longer post content or respond to comments and direct messages.



In making the move away from X, Mermaids has launched an account on TikTok where “we’ll be sharing content produced by and for trans young people, and we hope you’ll like what we have in store”.

Mermaids will also to continue to engage with its community on its Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Since launching on TikTok Mermaids has attracted more than 800 followers.

Last year the Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into Mermaids after safeguarding cincerns. This was escalated to a statutory inquiry due to “newly identified issues about the charity’s governance and management".

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