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Last active January 8, 2025 10:47
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An open letter for European leaders to stop using Twitter
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open_letter.md

Link to the petition on openpetition.eu

An Open Letter to All European Politicians and Leaders

Abandon X/Twitter: European Politicians and Leaders Must Act Now to Protect Democracy

Since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter over two years ago, the platform—now rebranded as X—has taken a troubling turn. The growing influence of its CEO in shaping political narratives and promoting specific ideologies, including altering how content is prioritized to reflect his own interests, has become increasingly apparent.

As one of the world’s most visited social media platforms, with millions of active users and a significant influence on media outlets, it is alarming to see X transform from a potential hub for open political discourse into a vehicle for biased agendas.

The continued use of X/Twitter by political leaders across Europe inadvertently lends credibility to a platform increasingly used to amplify divisive rhetoric and individual interests. In doing so, they leave marginalized groups—whom they represent—with little choice but to engage in a hostile environment to have their voices heard, failing in their duty to protect and empower all constituents and ultimately undermining democratic integrity.

We urge you to take a stand against this troubling development by enacting a simple yet powerful act: cease using X/Twitter as a medium for political communication and delete or deactivate any official accounts on the platform. This symbolic gesture would:

  1. Undermine the (already compromised) credibility of X/Twitter, compelling individuals to seek out more reliable and responsible sources of information.
  2. Encourage the use and development of alternative platforms that align with European values of accountability and fairness.
  3. Foster trust among constituents by prioritizing a more open, decentralized, and diverse communication channels.

Europe has long been a beacon for democratic principles and innovation. By leading the way in rejecting platforms that compromise these ideals, you can significantly reduce the influence of disinformation campaigns that threaten the fabric of democratic societies.

We call upon all Members of European Parliaments, national leaders, and local officials to act now, for the future of democracy is at stake.

@everton137
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Note to myself: add that X is not a safe space for several groups these politicians represent, and by continuing there, they are forced to be in a harmful place to hear those they helped to elect.

@lppedd
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lppedd commented Jan 7, 2025

You should emphasize that Musk has been tweaking the platform's algorithm for his own benefit.

@TeamStriebigSebastian
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Can we formulate it as an petition?
There are certain ways to write it. I asked Chatgpt he already provided a great draft.
https://chatgpt.com/share/677d1e75-17c0-800a-84f8-8a41b8ae3e2e

I also added that EU needs to provide a open source multi messenger system. The social networks need to provide a standard API free of charge specific to the specifications of the EU and need to follow a certain basic code of conduct compatible with the values of EU to have by default all political leaders post automatically on their platform.
This multi home approach, breaks the power of platforms.

@johnshorter
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Great initiative! I would suggest that you call on anyone that has an "official" account on X/twitter to not only cease using it, but to actively delete or deactivate their account.

@aresprom
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aresprom commented Jan 7, 2025

Great idea. Also, time to act before even more damage occurs to democracy. I find the following needing some clarification/ or to be included:

  • Specifying Alternatives: The letter could be more effective by suggesting specific alternative platforms or communication methods that uphold democratic values and provide practical options for politicians to transition away from X/Twitter.
    --> See also idea for petition from @TeamStriebigSebastian
  • Implementation Strategy: Including a detailed strategy for gradually phasing out use while strengthening other communication channels, to ensure that political messages continue to reach the populace effectively without disruption.
  • Enhancing of Cooperative Efforts: Proposing the creation of a cooperative European digital communication platform that would be governed by principles of democracy and transparency, providing a shared space for all European politicians.
  • Educational Campaigns: Recommending the implementation of educational campaigns to raise awareness among the public about the importance of source credibility and the impact of social media on democracy and public opinion. Topics might include:
  •   1.	Promotion of Ideological Bias: Since the platform is under the control of an individual with distinct political and ideological views, there is a risk that these biases influence the platform’s algorithms and content visibility, potentially skewing public discourse.
  2.	Amplification of Divisive Content: Platforms like X/Twitter often prioritize content that generates engagement, which can disproportionately amplify sensationalist or divisive content, thereby distorting important discussions.
  3.	Credibility and Integrity: Politicians using the platform may appear to support its practices, which could erode public trust if the platform is seen as compromised or unethical.

Clarification of the necessity of implementation

  • Safeguarding Democracy: To protect the foundational democratic principles of balanced discourse and prevent the monopolization of political communication.
  • Trust in Public Institutions: By distancing themselves from platforms with questionable practices, politicians can bolster public trust and credibility.
  • Adaptation to Technological Impacts: Addressing the role of social media in politics is crucial as these platforms increasingly influence public opinion and political engagement.

@lppedd
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lppedd commented Jan 7, 2025

Was the post removed from r/europe?

@everton137
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Was the post removed from r/europe?

@lppedd Yes. They argued that it was self-promotion. I tried to argue, but I didn't get any feedback and I was down voted. Never mind, I think I have great suggestions above. I will try to improve the letter as soon as I finish my work and publish it in some suggested platforms. I like the idea of the EU one.
image

@everton137
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everton137 commented Jan 7, 2025 •
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@lppedd @TeamStriebigSebastian @johnshorter @aresprom thank you very much for your feedback. I tried to incorporate all suggestions that I believe it could fit in this open letter. I already submitted it to the EU Petitions Portal, and now I am looking for a petition platform for more online engagement.

In case I have time and energy, it's possible I can create a website just for it and add some further suggestion and ideas I saw here.

@lppedd
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lppedd commented Jan 8, 2025

I'd create a website with a likes/visits count, to boost engagement and centralize where to get the information.

Then I'd send an email directly to EU representatives.

@everton137
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@lppedd I want to create a simple GitHub page, with a very clean layout. I just want to check how easy it would be to have it in several languages. I think it's possible to add some visitors counting on a Github page.

@lppedd
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lppedd commented Jan 8, 2025 •
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Yup, you should be able to integrate views and likes into a Pages site using external services.

A quick search gave me LikeBtn for likes, for example.

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