NewsThe Future of Black Twitter Questioned As Many Exit X

The Future of Black Twitter Questioned As Many Exit X

Amid the mass exodus from X, many wonder what the future holds for Black Twitter.

As numerous users continue their exodus from X, formerly known as Twitter, many are beginning to question what this mass departure could mean for the future of Black Twitter.

“I don’t think that Black Twitter is going to exist within the next couple of years,” said Jonathan Johnson, a 29-year-old behavioral therapist in Houston.

“Black Twitter is one of the most important forms of community that made the platform what it was,” said Ashon Crawley, a professor of religious studies and African American and African studies at the University of Virginia. “Social media is only important because of the social part, and if you don’t have that, people aren’t going to use” the app.

The shift away from X follows the platform’s new terms-of-service policy, effective Friday, which states that users’ posts will be utilized to train artificial intelligence. While users previously had the option to opt out of AI machine learning, the updated policy now mandates agreement simply by maintaining an X account.

“I’m not interested in having my content feed that monster,” Crawley, 44, said, noting how the app will suffer without the engagement of Black users.

While Bluesky doesn’t collect data on users’ race, the platform is welcoming the mass influx of Black users with open arms.

“In many ways, Black Twitter was one of the cornerstones of Twitter, and we’re eager to welcome this community to Bluesky,” Bluesky spokesperson Emily Liu said.

Academic research, public opinion surveys, X platform data, and reports of the platform’s collaboration with Trump’s campaign suggest that Musk has reshaped the site into a hub for Republican media and an echo chamber that amplifies right-wing ideologies.

“I’m seeing his tweets, which are pushing a bunch of misinformation and straight-up lies, basically. I’m seeing that, but I’m not seeing people I follow,” said Joella Still, a 37-year-old education consultant from Los Angeles.

“I just can’t contribute to something that is part of my demise,” she added.

Black users on Bluesky are actively building a supportive community on the platform, like Rudy Fraser, who created Blacksky, a curated collection of Black-centered feeds designed to filter out racism and misogyny. The new space offers a safe and inclusive experience for its members.

Whether on Threads, Spill, or other platforms, Black Twitter members will work to find a new home for their community.

“Those of us who make up Black Twitter will just end up going to different social media platforms and re-creating the good parts of what we had,” Johnson said.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Twitter Sparks Debate On Equality After Nike Names New CEO Who Started As An Intern

Source: Black Enterprise

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