La Vanguardia cuts ties with ‘disinformation network’ X

• Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia has announced it is pulling out of the X platform, saying it has become a “disinformation network”
• The newspaper stated that Platform X failed to effectively deal with misinformation, hate speech and misleading content on its platform

What happened

Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia announced on Thursday (November 14) that it would stop publishing its content on the social media platform X, calling it a “disinformation network.”
The Barcelona-based newspaper wrote in an editorial that Twitter X had become an “echo chamber” filled with “conspiracy theories and disinformation.” Due to a lack of effective regulation, its impact has multiplied. With “proper and reasonable moderation,” its influence could have been much smaller.
The paper’s director, Jordi Juan, told AFP, “This will have an impact… we will lose audiences, and we may lose subscriptions.” However, he added, “In this battle for rigorous and serious information and for the reputation of our brand, it is more important not to do so.”
Additionally, the day before La Vanguardia made this decision, The Guardian in the UK also announced it would stop promoting its news on X. The reason was that the platform “often features disturbing content.”

Also read: Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia quits ‘disinformation network’ X

Also read: Spain’s Vanguardia Daily To Stop Posting On ‘Disinformation Network’ X

What it’s important

La Vanguardia’s decision to withdraw from X’s disinformation network has sparked widespread attention, particularly in the context of growing tension between the global news industry and social media platforms. As social platforms increasingly become the main channels for information dissemination, the spread of disinformation and harmful content on these platforms has become a focal point for both the public and news organizations. For instance, in 2023, news outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian began to strengthen their partnerships with social media platforms, calling for better content moderation to prevent the spread of fake news. This reflects the growing awareness among media organizations of the inadequacies in platform content management.

This trend indicates that the relationship between social platforms and news organizations is undergoing a profound transformation. While X’s disinformation network was originally intended to curb misleading content on the platform, La Vanguardia’s withdrawal highlights significant flaws in platform governance. News organizations pulling out of such partnerships may be sending a signal to social platforms that they can no longer tolerate irresponsible content management, especially in the era of rampant fake news.
This event not only marks a shift in individual media decisions, but it also represents a broader reflection within the media industry on the responsibilities of social platforms.