Diaz Abandons X Over Musk's Politics and Platform Concerns

Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz Quits X

Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has announced that she will stop using social media platform X. This decision comes in response to the behavior of X's owner, Elon Musk, at the inauguration of United States President Donald Trump.

Diaz, who is also the Minister of Labor and Social Economy, has a large following on X with 638,000 followers. She stated that she will no longer use the platform for personal or political posts. Other members of her left-wing Sumar party will also follow suit. However, a spokesperson for the Spanish government clarified that Diaz's decision is personal and that the government will continue to use various communication channels.

Diaz's decision stems from Musk's controversial actions and statements. Musk, who was appointed by Trump to head the new US Department of Government Efficiency, has been criticized for making a stiff arm gesture that resembled a Nazi salute during the inauguration speech. He has also made comments about European politics and his support for right-wing parties, causing upset in several countries.

Diaz explained her decision to Spanish state broadcaster TVE, stating that she will not be part of a social network that uses algorithms to promote xenophobic ideas, violate human rights, and encourage the extreme right. She cited both Musk's behavior in Washington and his "absolutely convoluted speeches" as reasons for her departure.

Diaz's decision follows a growing trend of concerns about X. Since Musk's acquisition in October 2022, an increasing number of users have expressed concerns about the platform's content, reliability, and the use of algorithms to spread selected posts.

In November 2024, shortly after Trump's election win and Musk's appointment, The Guardian announced its departure from X. The newspaper cited the platform's promotion of "disturbing content" and its "global threat to free access to reliable information."

Other organizations have also distanced themselves from X. In January, Germany's central bank and several government ministries announced they were discontinuing their use of the platform. The widely respected French newspaper Le Monde also left X, citing concerns about Musk's closeness to Trump and his transformation of the platform into a tool for political pressure.