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Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has announced her departure from X, formerly known as Twitter, citing concerns over the platform’s transformation into what she describes as “a platform for hate, disinformation and manipulation.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Weingarten declared, “It’s time to let X/Twitter go,” and directed followers to find her and the AFT on alternative platforms including Bluesky, Substack, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook.
Speaking to Reuters, Weingarten confirmed that both her personal account and the official AFT account would cease posting on X effective immediately. She emphasized that the decision was not made lightly, saying, “It’s not an easy decision but it’s the right decision. You have to draw a line. If you’re on Team Humanity and you believe we have to protect children, in particular, you have to draw this line.”
According to Weingarten, the platform had already deteriorated since Elon Musk’s acquisition in 2022, with increasing presence of extremists and trolls. However, she identified a specific breaking point: the recent controversy surrounding X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, which reportedly generated inappropriate images of women and children in bikinis or underwear without consent.
“The Grok AI image generator, with no safeguards, was the last straw,” Weingarten told Reuters.
This departure represents a significant move for the leader of one of America’s largest teachers’ unions, which represents approximately 1.8 million education professionals. Weingarten has been a prominent voice in education policy discussions and has frequently used social media platforms to advocate for teachers’ rights and educational reforms.
Weingarten joins a growing exodus of high-profile users who have abandoned X in favor of alternative social media platforms. Bluesky, where Weingarten maintains an active presence, has emerged as a popular destination for former Twitter users, particularly those with progressive political leanings.
The AFT has remained politically active under Weingarten’s leadership, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and frequently criticizing the Trump administration’s education policies. Recently, the union released a statement calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to avoid operations near schools, arguing that such actions disrupt education and create fear in communities.
“Why can’t this administration focus on working with communities to help them thrive, instead of stoking fear, violence and death?” the AFT questioned in their statement, referencing school closures in Minneapolis intended to keep students and families safe amid immigration enforcement concerns.
The controversy surrounding X’s content policies has intensified since Musk’s acquisition. Critics argue that moderation standards have declined, leading to increased harassment and misinformation on the platform. Musk has defended his approach as promoting free speech, though detractors contend that the lack of robust safeguards has created an environment hostile to many users.
Neither the American Federation of Teachers, X, nor Grok responded immediately to requests for comment on Weingarten’s departure from the platform.
This development highlights the ongoing tensions between social media platforms’ content policies and the expectations of public figures who use these spaces to communicate with constituents and the broader public. As alternative platforms continue to gain traction, traditional social media giants face increasing pressure to balance free expression with content standards that protect vulnerable populations.
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18 Comments
It’s unfortunate to see a major platform like X/Twitter become a hub for disinformation. While free speech is important, enabling the spread of false and hateful narratives does more harm than good.
Weingarten is right to draw a line here. Maintaining ethical, child-safe online spaces should be a top priority for social media.
While free speech is crucial, platforms must also uphold basic ethical standards. Weingarten’s departure from X/Twitter sends a strong message about the line that should not be crossed.
Kudos to Weingarten for prioritizing the wellbeing of children and the public over remaining on a platform that has enabled the spread of hate and falsehoods.
It’s concerning to see a respected leader like Weingarten feel compelled to leave X/Twitter due to its shift toward enabling hate and disinformation. Platforms must do better.
Weingarten’s departure is a significant loss for X/Twitter, but a necessary step to uphold ethical standards. Responsible social media governance is critical.
The decision by Weingarten to leave X/Twitter is a principled stance in the face of the platform’s deterioration. Promoting truth and protecting the vulnerable should come before commercial interests.
I respect Weingarten’s commitment to her values. Platforms must be held accountable for the content and discourse they enable.
Weingarten’s decision to quit X/Twitter is a brave and necessary move. Platforms that fail to curb the spread of hateful, manipulative content do not deserve the patronage of principled users.
This is a principled stance that highlights the urgent need for stronger content moderation and accountability measures on social media platforms.
This decision by Randi Weingarten is understandable given the concerning direction of X/Twitter under new ownership. Protecting children and preventing the spread of hate and disinformation is critical.
I agree, the platform’s shift toward extremism and trolling is very worrying. Responsible leaders need to take a stand against such harmful content.
Weingarten’s departure from X/Twitter is a wake-up call for the platform to address its growing problems with hate speech and disinformation. Responsible leadership is essential for maintaining healthy online discourse.
I applaud Weingarten for taking this stand. Platforms must be held to high standards when it comes to protecting users, especially vulnerable groups like children.
Weingarten’s exit from X/Twitter is a significant loss for the platform. Leaders with integrity must take a stand against the normalization of hate and disinformation online.
Agreed, X/Twitter’s failure to moderate harmful content responsibly has damaged its credibility. Principled decisions like this are needed to curb its negative influence.
Weingarten’s decision reflects the difficult tradeoffs social media platforms face in balancing free expression and responsible moderation. Tackling disinformation should be a top priority.
This is a principled stand that highlights the need for platforms to be more accountable for the real-world impact of the content they amplify.