The owner of X, billionaire Elon Musk, has transformed X into a global media shamelessly targeting and demonising individuals and ethnic groups in just over two years. Malicious actors, such as Russian authorities, spread anti-Ukrainian, genocide-justifying propaganda on X threatening the national security of several states while inciting unrest and violence.
Tehy’s Communications Director Jessikka Aro says that Tehy condemns the systematic, state-level propaganda, racism, hate speech towards women and minorities and harassment of dissidents and journalists on X.
– We do not want spread our messages in an information environment where the users are exposed to threats and slander, Aro says.
Tehy stopped advertising on X when Musk bought the platform, then named Twitter, in 2022. In the same year, Tehy, Tehy magazine and President Rytkönen left TikTok.
To this day, some Finnish authorities, such as the national conciliator tasked with negotiating labour disputes, communicate their official decisions on X. Tehy does not recommend using X for communications or marketing purposes.
– It is not an accessible or responsible communications channel nor does it support an open and democratic civil society,Aro says.
Tehy defends the universal freedom of speech of all its members and all people. Freedom of speech has not been a reality on X for a long time.
– It is not freedom of expression if every other post on the platform is by Elon Musk in support of Donald Trump and the far-right in Germany, and every other post is conspiracy theories supported by Russian trolls. We have had enough, says Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen.
Tehy would like to thank its members and followers on X for their long-standing cooperation and rewarding discussions as well as their contribution to making a difference. Tehy hopes that the social media community can come together on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, Linkedin and Mastodon going forward.
Enquiries: Tehy Communications Director Jessikka Aro, [email protected]
Tehy President on social media: https://tehy.fi/milla