Misinformation Flood, University In UK Withdraws From Elon Musk's Platform X

Platform X dituduh banyak menyebarkan misinformasi (foto: kok. pexels)

JAKARTA Other universities and educational institutions in the UK have joined the wave back from Elon Musk's social media platform X. They argued the platform's role in spreading misinformation that sparked racial unrest last year.

A Reuters survey on Tuesday January 7 showed several universities had reduced the use of X to a minimum possible or stopped completely, following in the footsteps of many academics who had left the platform.

The role of X, formerly known as Twitter, was in the spotlight in the UK last year during the racial unrest that took place. Musk, who is a close aide to US President-elect Donald Trump, has called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be imprisoned and anti-Muslim activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who co-founded the far-right British Defense League and is known as Tommy Robinson, released from prison.

Reuters conducted a survey of X's accounts of more than 150 art universities, colleges, and conservatorys, as well as contacted those who had made little or no posts in recent months. They cited concerns about misinformation, violent content, and a decrease in engagement.

"London Business School continues to review its communications channels and decides which will be used based on the effective audience's degree of engagement," LBS was quoted as saying by VOI from Reuters. LBS last posted to its 182,000 followers on X in September. LBS is one of the highest-ranking business schools in the world.

Reuters first reported in October that some British police had stopped using X or reduced its use. The university survey showed wider withdrawals among public institutions, although many universities still regularly post on X.

At least seven of the 31 universities at the University of Cambridge have stopped posting on X. "We know this platform is getting more and more toxic, so we will continue to assess our presence in X and monitor emerging alternatives," said Mariton College, the university's biggest college in terms of the number of students.

Cambridge University says it continues to use X along with other channels. In Oxford, Merton College - a college with the highest academic ranking at the university - has removed its X account.

Harris Manchester - another Oxford college - last posted on November 15 and asked his followers to find them on another platform.

East Anglia University said its audience involvement in X had fallen by 80%. X did not respond to a request for comment. Falmouth University last posted on X in September, while Plymouth University Marjon said it would no longer use it. London Metropolitan University cited a decrease in engagement as an excuse not to actively post.

Buckinghamshire New University said that "X is no longer a place where we want to encourage conversations with our universities". Several leading art conservatorys have also been withdrawn.

Royal Northern College of Music said it was "knowingly channeling its energy elsewhere", while London's performing arts conservatory, Trinity Lab, removed its X account. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama hasn't posted since August.