Spanish Newspaper La Vanguardia Abandons X Platform Citing Disinformation Concerns

Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia has announced it will cease publishing content on X, formerly Twitter, declaring the platform has devolved into a “disinformation network” under Elon Musk’s ownership.

The Barcelona-based publication criticized X for becoming “an echo chamber” that amplifies “conspiracy theories and misinformation” due to inadequate content moderation. In its Thursday announcement, La Vanguardia specifically cited the proliferation of hateful content targeting ethnic minorities, women, and racial groups as driving its decision.

“Since the arrival of Elon Musk, X has been filled with toxic and disorienting content in an increasingly overwhelming way,” the newspaper stated. The publication expressed particular concern about how such inflammatory content captures user attention and generates advertising revenue for the platform.

La Vanguardia’s decision was reportedly accelerated by President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement appointing Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with restructuring federal agencies and reducing government spending.

The Spanish newspaper also highlighted the platform’s bot problem, noting the surge of fake accounts that flooded conversations about the recent devastating floods in Spain, which claimed over 200 lives. “The growing presence of bots on X is multiplied to the point of ridicule,” the publication stated.

Despite withdrawing its organizational presence, La Vanguardia will continue monitoring X for news purposes, and its journalists may maintain individual accounts while adhering to professional guidelines regarding respectful communication.

This move follows British news outlet The Guardian’s similar decision announced Wednesday to stop posting content on X. The Guardian cited the U.S. election as a catalyst that “underlined” concerns it had been considering for some time. “We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere,” The Guardian explained.

Media experts have been monitoring the exodus of news organizations from X since Musk’s $44 billion acquisition in 2022. His self-described “free speech absolutist” approach has dramatically altered the platform’s content policies. Substantial staff reductions included significant cuts to content moderation teams, while Musk restored accounts of users previously banned for spreading conspiracy theories.

The departures of established news outlets raise questions about X’s future as a reliable news distribution channel. Since Musk’s takeover, the platform has experienced declining advertising revenue as many major brands reduced spending due to concerns about brand safety alongside controversial content.

For publications like La Vanguardia and The Guardian, the decision represents a significant shift in digital strategy. Both newspapers have invested considerably in building substantial follower bases on the platform over many years. Their withdrawal signals growing concern in traditional media circles about association with platforms perceived to amplify misinformation.

Media analysts note that news organizations are increasingly evaluating their social media presences based not only on audience reach but also on alignment with journalistic values and brand reputation. As polarization increases across social platforms, more publications may reconsider their digital distribution strategies.

Industry observers will be watching closely to see if this marks the beginning of a broader media exodus from X, or whether these outlets remain outliers in an evolving social media landscape.