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In a significant shift in digital strategy, multiple British police forces have scaled back their presence on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter. This move comes amid increasing concerns about the platform's handling of so-called extreme content and its implications for public safety.
A recent survey monitoring social media output from 44 territorial police forces and the British Transport Police over the last three months revealed a noticeable decline in activity on X. The survey compared the current engagement levels to those from the previous year, highlighting a substantial reduction in posts.
For instance, the West Midlands Police, one of the largest forces in the UK, has cut down its posts on X by approximately 95% compared to the previous year. Similarly, Lancashire Police has reduced its usage by about 75%, and Derbyshire Police has ceased making original posts since August 12, only responding to direct inquiries.
The reasons cited for the withdrawal vary among the forces, with some expressing a strategic shift towards other platforms they believe are more effective for community engagement. For example, platforms like Facebook and Instagram are now preferred for broader outreach, especially in delivering updates on community-related matters such as road closures.
The decision to pull back from X also comes in the wake of controversial statements made by Elon Musk and the platform’s role in spreading misinformation, which allegedly fueled riots across Britain this summer. Musk’s remark in August suggesting that a civil war in Britain was "inevitable" further strained relations with UK officials and prompted critical responses from government leaders and police officials.
Despite these changes, X remains a significant player in the UK's digital landscape, with over 10 million British app users as of October. However, according to Similarweb data, this represents a 19% decrease in users compared to the previous year.
This trend of declining engagement is not isolated to police forces. Other prominent organizations, such as the Guardian and the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, have also discontinued their use of X, pointing to similar content-related concerns.
While the UK government continues to utilize X for public communications, it has shifted its paid communications to other platforms like Instagram and Facebook, according to government sources.
The retreat from X by these institutions underscores the evolving challenges and dynamics within social media spaces, particularly concerning governance, public trust, and safety.