Table of Contents
- 1 Stephen King turns away from X
- 2 Celebrities are leaving X in droves
- 3 Stephen King switches to “Threads”
- 4 Horror classics: The best Stephen King film adaptations
- 5 Different reactions in different regions
- 6 How has Elon Musk’s leadership influenced the user experience on Twitter, and what specific issues have arisen since his takeover?
PressSplit
Stephen King, best-selling author and master of horror literature, is withdrawing from Platform X. Other celebrities are also turning their backs on X.
Stephen King is one of the most famous and influential writers of our time, famous for his captivating horror and suspense novels. Works like The Shining and IT have captivated generations of readers and cemented King’s reputation as a master of the genre. But now the best-selling author is making headlines with his decision to withdraw from Platform X, formerly known as Twitterto avert.
Stephen King turns away from X
Bestselling author Stephen King turns his back on Platform X. He will provide his fans with news on another platform (archive photo). © Nancy Kaszerman/ZUMA Press Wire/Imago
After Elon Musk took over the platform in October 2022 and renamed it X, the atmosphere changed significantly. Stephen King, a harsh critic of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, increasingly found the environment to be “toxic”. Daily Mirror writes. In a recent post, King declared, “I’m leaving Twitter,” while continuing to call the platform by its old name. He stressed that he tried to stay, but the toxic atmosphere became unbearable.
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King denied rumors that he was banned from X after he ironically referred to Musk as “Trump’s first lady.” N-tv.de. He wrote: “I see there’s a rumor going around that I called the Musk man Trump’s new first lady. I didn’t, but only because it didn’t occur to me.”
Celebrities are leaving X in droves
King’s decision is part of a larger trend in which many prominent figures are leaving X. After Donald Trump’s election victory and Elon Musk’s takeover, stars such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Lee Curtis and Taylor Swift left the platform. This exodus reflects dissatisfaction with the new direction of X, which is increasingly seen as a mouthpiece for ultra-right views.
Stephen King switches to “Threads”
Stephen King, who liked to interfere in the US election campaignhas now found a new home on Threads, a platform owned by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Group. He has already gained a considerable number of followers there. The Bluesky platform, founded by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey, is also seeing an increase in users, including King himself. Both platforms offer an alternative to X and attract many users who want to distance themselves from the toxic environment. Fans of the horror author may follow him on the new platform. His contributions to X included not only political commentary, but also occasional book recommendations.
Horror classics: The best Stephen King film adaptations
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Different reactions in different regions
While prominent personalities in the Anglo-American region are turning their backs on X, a different picture emerges in Germany. Politicians like Robert Habeck and the SPD return to X to counter the populist discourse. “Leaving places like this to loudmouths and populists is not easy,” explained Habeck on his return Tagesspiegel.de. These contrasting developments illustrate the different perceptions and strategies when dealing with social media in different regions.
How has Elon Musk’s leadership influenced the user experience on Twitter, and what specific issues have arisen since his takeover?
Could you give us an overview of the recent events that led Stephen King to leave Twitter?
What are some of the main issues with the new direction of Twitter, particularly since Elon Musk’s takeover?
What made Stephen King decide to switch to Threads and Bluesky, particularly after experiencing the toxic environment on Twitter?
How do you think the different reactions to Twitter in the US and Germany can be explained? Are there cultural or political factors at play?
How do you think social media platforms, like Twitter and X, should balance free speech and hate speech? Should they have more control over the content posted by users, or should they maintain a hands-off approach?
Are there any alternative social media platforms that you think could be a better fit for politicians and public figures who want to engage with their audience? If so, why?
