EFF exits X after nearly 20 years, citing declining engagement on Elon Musk’s platform as a key reason for their departure.
The Departure of EFF
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, known as EFF, decided to leave X. It wasn’t easy. They’ve been there for almost twenty years. But the numbers don’t lie. In 2018, their posts reached between 50 to 100 million views a month. By 2024, it was down to 2 million. Last year, 13 million views for the entire year. Kenyatta Thomas, their social media manager, said it was time. X posts now get less than 3% of the views they used to. So, they left.
EFF isn’t alone. Many have left X. News outlets like NPR, PBS, and The Guardian have gone. Academics, celebrities, and even local governments have moved on. They have their reasons. Some left because of labels. Musk called NPR and PBS ‘state-affiliated media.’ Others, like Le Monde, left because of Musk’s ties with Trump. But for many, it was about traffic. Without it, they couldn’t stay. In today’s world, every bit of traffic counts.
The Struggle for Traffic
Traffic is gold. Publishers need it. But it’s getting harder to find. AI is changing things. It’s taking away traffic. Search engines and Facebook aren’t helping much either. Newsrooms are folding. They can’t handle the pressure. Layoffs are common. X used to be a source of traffic. Not anymore. Even Nate Silver saw it. He used to get 15% of FiveThirtyEight’s traffic from Twitter. Now, it’s just 2-3%. He tried to get discussions going on X. But it didn’t help much.
Silver and Nikita Bier had a debate. Bier said newsrooms were using X wrong. They should spark conversations, not just post headlines. Silver disagreed. Even when he tried, traffic didn’t improve. He shared his thoughts in a newsletter. X is now filled with conservative voices. Accounts like ‘Catturd’ get more engagement than The New York Times. Musk didn’t like Silver’s analysis. He called it ‘bullshit.’ But the numbers tell a different story.
The Changing Landscape
X isn’t what it used to be. NiemanLab’s analysis showed it. They looked at 18 big publishers. Their posts with links didn’t do well. Engagement was low. This doesn’t mean X is downranking them. They say they stopped doing that. But something’s changed. X isn’t as lively as before. Bier said newsrooms should adapt. But it’s not that simple. The ecosystem is broken. Silver shared some data. It showed the top accounts on X. Many were low quality.
Despite the challenges, some stay on X. They say the people deserve information. EFF will continue on other platforms. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. But they know being there isn’t an endorsement. They stay to reach people. To share important messages. Even if it means criticizing the platform they’re on. X isn’t where the fight is anymore. But the fight continues. And so does the struggle for traffic. It’s a new world. And everyone has to adapt.
A Personal Reflection
I’ve seen many things change. Platforms come and go. But the truth remains. People need information. They need the truth. And those who share it must be brave. They must adapt to the times. It’s not always easy. But it’s necessary. The world is changing fast. And we must keep up. Courage isn’t just about fighting wars. It’s about facing the truth. Even when it’s hard. Even when it means leaving a place you’ve known for years.
Integrity matters. It’s about staying true to your values. Even when the world around you changes. That’s what EFF did. They left X because it was the right thing to do. They saw the numbers. They made the call. And they did it with grace. In the end, that’s what matters. Living authentically. Staying true to yourself. Even when the world lacks both. That’s the real fight. And it’s one worth fighting.
