Black Twitter users are reportedly leaving the social media site after Elon Musk's purchase of X, formerly known as Twitter, created what they perceive as a "hostile environment."
Many are migrating to alternative platforms, such as Spill, created by former Twitter executive Alphonzo Terrell.
April Reign, an adviser at Spill, expressed her belief that Musk's ownership of X has effectively "killed Black Twitter," leaving a significant void. Terrell, on the other hand, clarified that Spill was not intended to be a Twitter clone but rather a platform to enhance Spill itself.
He emphasized that marginalized groups have always found ways to carve out space on digital platforms, regardless of their original design, and that their presence will always have an impact.
Black Twitter has been instrumental in giving rise to influential social movements, including #BlackLivesMatter. However, Giro's Tour revealed that his interactions on X often left him feeling "triggered and tired." He criticized the deliberate and seemingly unnecessary changes implemented by Musk, which made him feel unwelcome.
Tour also lamented the absence of a comparable platform to X, noting that Twitter provided a national water cooler where anyone could freely discuss their world. Reign echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that while they still use the service, the vibrancy, energy, and sense of community that once defined Black Twitter are now missing.
Meredith Clark, an associate journalism professor at Northeastern University, argued that Musk's acquisition of Twitter has created a hostile environment for Black users who were previously able to connect and find community in good faith. She believes that it would be impossible for Twitter to serve as the focal point for a similar racial justice movement as seen in 2020.
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