ABC Broadcaster Leaves Elon Musk's X Due to 'Toxic Interactions'

Elon Musk has made a lot of changes to social network X, formerly called Twitter, since buying it last year. Credit: GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

ABC, Australia's public broadcaster, is removing most of its accounts from Twitter, which billionaire Elon Musk has renamed X, citing «toxic interactions» and a strategy to move its resources to other social media platforms with more audience.

The decision makes ABC the third major public broadcaster to leave Twitter since Musk bought it. US media companies PBS and NPR removed themselves in April after they were given the controversial label of «state media» similar to foreign propaganda agencies such as Russia's RT.

According to ABC's website, the broadcaster will retain only four the remaining official accounts on the site, including those targeted at the Chinese-speaking audience.

David Anderson, ABC's managing director, said the reduction in activity would allow staff to focus «on the accounts that overwhelmingly provide the most value.»

He added, “The vast majority of ABC’s social media audience is on the official websites of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and TikTok is predicted to have the strongest growth over the next four years.

The platform is getting more and more expensive to use.

Mr. Anderson also mentioned the increase in «toxic interactions», which have unfortunately become more common on the platform, as a factor influencing the decision.

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According to the Guardian, several senior ABC journalists have already left Twitter after facing abuse, including News Breakfast host Lisa Millar and Australian Story host Leigh Sales.

« Incidentally, X cut his trust and security groups. In addition, fees are being introduced that make it more and more expensive to use the platform,” said Mr. Anderson.