Why I Am Leaving Twitter
Elon Musk's takeover, and why i can't support it
I opened Twitter last week to the news that Elon Musk’s takeover has led to:
A 500% increase in uses of the “n-word” by trolls on the platform who wanted to “test the limits of free speech.”
Musk’s plan to introduce a new “paid video feature” that will allow for more pornographic content on Twitter and place the company in “competition with sites that specialize in adult content.”
As well as the laying off of 50% of Twitter’s employees, including crucial aspects of the company like the human rights and accountability teams.
When I heard this news, I was dismayed. At its best, Twitter has been a genuine place of online community as it related to my different interests: superhero comics and movies, pop culture, meme culture, theological communities, and current events. Indeed, I love the different people I’ve met and connected with on Twitter, and the different movements I’ve participated in ranging from #BlackLivesMatter to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut.
But I cannot, in good conscience, remain on Twitter when its new owner, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” enables racists and sex traffickers.
I have written extensively on the deep intertwinement between racism and the porn industry, and Elon Musk’s takeover reveals how Twitter will eventually become a global, online platform where both racial violence and sexual exploitation will take place. And I don’t want any part of it.
Recently, theologian Kara Slade has also shared her objection of Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and her plans to leave the platform if it does indeed become a porn site. She writes on her Substack:
[My] deepest objection [against porn] is that it changes our ways of seeing each other intimately. The essential logic of porn is that of looking without being perceived in return. This is a formative act. It spills over into human relationships because it trains people in non-mutuality, in concealing one’s own vulnerability, in seeing wrongly…
Is Twitter malformative in other ways? ABSOLUTELY. It foments hatred, division, and violence. It has been the site of scurrilous mob attacks on individuals for trangressions real or perceived. To this point, I have found that it’s worth it to stay and be a positive witness. I’m not sure I can do that anymore.
I agree with Slade. And with her, I have decided to leave Twitter. That means I will be spending more time on Substack and building my network here, as well as connecting with you all through different platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. So if you haven’t connected with me yet on these platforms, please say “hi”!
Moreover, I’m announcing a brand new addition to my Substack publication: the Sacred Sonder subscriber chat.
This is a conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers — kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’ll post short prompts, thoughts, and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.
To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app (messages are sent via the app, not email). Turn on push notifications so you don’t miss a chance to join conversation as it happens. I hope to see you all there soon.
How to get started
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Chat is only on iOS for now, but chat is coming to the Android app soon.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
I’ve already started my first chat thread so come on over and say hello!