Why We Left X – And Why Some Artists Can’t Afford To

At the start of the year, we deactivated our X account. As the social media platform with our second-largest following - one we had built up over many years - this was not a decision we took lightly. However, we felt it was the right one for us as an organisation. The response to our boycott was overwhelmingly positive, as much of the artistic community has pushed back against the direction Elon Musk has taken the platform.

Despite this, there are arguments in favour of artists retaining a presence on X, and why a boycott is not the right decision for everyone, even if supported in principle.

An Increasingly Toxic Environment

For artists and art organisations that have already left X, one of the most common reasons cited is the platform’s growing toxicity. One study found that the weekly rate of hate speech increased by about 50% following Musk’s takeover, with a notable rise in homophobic, transphobic, and racist slurs.

Beyond the platform itself, Musk has become an increasingly divisive figure. Whether it was the Nazi salute controversy in January 2025 or his inflammatory commentary on British politics, including statements like "Civil war is inevitable" and "Britain is going full Stalin" - his presence has made X an uncomfortable space for many. A January 2025 YouGov poll found that 71% of Britons viewed Musk unfavourably (compared to just 20% who held a positive opinion). It’s fair to assume that the negative sentiment is even stronger within the artistic community, which has long championed values of inclusivity and compassion.

As a result, many artists and arts organisations have turned their backs on X, even at the cost of losing an engaged audience. Take the Glasgow School of Art, for example, which, despite having over 44,000 followers, withdrew from the platform in August 2024. While this decision may have been detrimental from a business perspective, more individuals and groups are prioritizing ethical considerations over exposure.

Why Some Artists Can’t Afford to Leave

Not everyone, however, has the luxury of being able to step away should they want to. Even the most vocal supporters of an X boycott would struggle to begrudge a struggling artist who continues to use the platform in order to earn some much-needed income.

Despite its increasing flaws, X remains a massive platform with around 600 million active users per month. In contrast, Bluesky, one of the most comparable alternatives, likely has fewer than 10 million monthly active users. For artists who depend on social media traffic to sell their work or secure commissions, abandoning X for a smaller platform could mean a significant financial loss.

Many artists already face challenges making a living from their practice. Expecting them to forgo one of their primary revenue streams in favour of a boycott that may not directly impact Musk or X’s trajectory is, for some, an unfair ask. While organisations that have left the platform have earned praise, it’s worth remembering that many of them were in a position to absorb the hit of reduced exposure.

For those who remain on X - sometimes reluctantly - there should be understanding, not condemnation. If the artistic community truly values inclusivity and compassion, we must extend those principles to our peers who are simply trying to survive in an increasingly difficult landscape.