St. Pauli has made headlines as the first major football club to depart from X, previously known as Twitter, labeling the platform a “hate machine.”
The Bundesliga club has expressed its concerns regarding the potential influence of X on the upcoming German elections, particularly in light of the platform's role in amplifying hate speech, far-right conspiracy theories, and racism.
The scrutiny surrounding X has intensified following the recent U.S. elections, where the platform was criticized for its handling of harmful content. This scrutiny has been further fueled by the support of
Elon Musk, who acquired X in October 2022 and has been a prominent backer of
Donald Trump, who won the election last week. Musk's involvement has raised alarms about the implications for democratic processes, leading St. Pauli to take a stand and encourage its fans to join them on Bluesky, a competing social media platform.
Question 1: Why did St Pauli decide to leave X?
St Pauli described X as a “hate machine” and expressed concerns that the platform may influence the outcome of the forthcoming German election.
Question 2: What action did St Pauli take regarding their social media presence?
St Pauli moved to Bluesky and urged their fans to follow them on that platform instead of X.
Question 3: What recent events have intensified scrutiny of X?
Scrutiny of X has intensified following Donald Trump's victory in the recent US election, which raised concerns about the platform's role in promoting hate speech, far-right conspiracy theories, and racism.
Question 4: Who owns X and what recent appointment was made involving Elon Musk?
Elon Musk owns X, having purchased it in October 2022. Recently, he was given part-control of a new “department of government efficiency.”