In the wake of the US election and Elon Musk’s ties to the Trump campaign, prominent media outlets and voices are retreating from X, seeking refuge on platforms like Bluesky. For researchers, too, the question persists: Should they lurk, engage, or leave? Bengt Johansson from the University of Gothenburg shares his perspective on navigating a platform that’s both polarized and still central to public discourse.
I must admit, for more than three years, I have struggled with the decision of whether to stay on X. I have always held a somewhat skeptical view of this social platform, even back when it was called Twitter. The harsh language, strong polarization, and limited willingness to listen to differing opinions have always been discouraging. Moreover, I have been reluctant to tweet because confrontation and conflict are simply not in my nature.
However, X is not what it used to be. I have started to notice that voices I once followed have either silenced or disappeared. The platform, which used to be a dynamic mix of diverse opinions, has become increasingly one-sided. Some even describe it as an internal communication channel for the US Republican Party. So, should I stay, or should I go? There are compelling arguments for both leaving and staying, and these decisions can be approached on different levels. Similarly, there are different strategies for engaging with a social media platform. One can stay, actively post and interact, remain passive and simply observe, or delete the account entirely and leave.
So, should I stay, or should I go? There are compelling arguments for both leaving and staying, and these decisions can be approached on different levels. Similarly, there are different strategies for engaging with a social media platform.
Deleting your account can serve as a statement, signaling that you refuse to legitimize the platform and what it represents. This decision is less about content and more about the principles underlying the platform’s operations. However, this rationale can lead to ethical dilemmas, especially if one continues to use other social media platforms, such as TikTok, which also face criticism for questionable ethics and ownership. Another reason to leave is the desire to avoid a toxic information environment, which X has increasingly become. Many people, myself included, spend more time on platforms like Bluesky, Instagram, or LinkedIn, where discussions are generally less polarized.
A middle-ground position is to stay but remain inactive. This has been the strategy adopted by news organizations and many of the voices I follow. They choose to observe without posting or engaging – essentially “lurking”. This approach can be seen as a form of surveillance, allowing one to monitor the digital public sphere. Despite the availability of alternative platforms, X still holds an advantage when it comes to breaking news and sports updates.
A middle-ground position is to stay but remain inactive. This has been the strategy adopted by news organizations and many of the voices I follow
The third position is to stay, post, and interact as before. However, this can be challenging, especially given the platform’s increasingly skewed political leanings. Posting about topics like migration, media, or climate change often results in a flood of hostile responses. While some reasonable counterarguments occasionally surface, they are becoming increasingly rare. Despite this, remaining active on X offers the opportunity to reach audiences one might never encounter on other platforms. That is probably the most important reason to stay on X as a researcher.
So, what should one do? Ultimately, the decision is a personal one, and among my friends and colleagues, I have seen all three positions taken. For my part, I have decided to stay and be semi-active. I rarely share my research anymore, instead participating in threads about handball and music. Politics and media? Not so much anymore. Nevertheless, I still want to keep an eye on what the X community is discussing, even if the conversations seem more one-sided these days. For now, my lurking days have begun.
Image: Adobe Stock