The Dilemma: Staying on X or Finding a New Home for Our Voice?
The decision weighed heavily on us: Should we stay or should we go?
The exodus from X, formerly known as Twitter, began gaining momentum last year. Icons like The Guardian and other leading publications fled the platform, citing concerns about content moderation, a rise in harmful accounts, and the platform’s trajectory under Elon Musk’s leadership.
For us, at The Hankyoreh, the decision wasn’t simple. While we condemn the platform’s direction, our own data told a different story.
X is where our voice resonated loudest. Over the past quarters, 88% of users who quoted (retweeted) our posts fell into a crucial demographic: young adults – a key audience often missing from Facebook’s clutches. Meanwhile, X was where we directly engaged with 70% of users between 18 and 34 – a stark contrast to our Facebook account, where only 35% of our 310,000 followers fell into this vital age bracket.
It’s not only the numbers that convinced us to stay. X has become a unique platform in the South Korean digital landscape. While other platforms see Facebook dominate, X has remained a haven for women between their 20s and 30s.
It appears that X
What are the pros and cons of staying on X for news organizations?
The Dilemma: Staying on X or Finding a New Home for Our Voice?
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving deep into a dilemma facing many news organizations: Should they stay on X, formerly known as Twitter, or seek a new platform for their voice? Joining us today is [Guest Name], social media editor for The Hankyoreh, a leading South Korean news outlet.
[Guest Name], thanks for being here.
**Guest:** Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:** Let’s get right to it. Many publications, like The Guardian, have left X citing concerns about content moderation and the platform’s direction under Elon Musk. What made The Hankyoreh decide to stay?
**Guest:** It wasn’t an easy decision. We share those concerns about content moderation and the rise of harmful accounts. However, our data showed that X is where we reach our core audience – young adults. 88% of those who retweet our posts fall into that demographic. This is a vital audience we struggle to reach on other platforms like Facebook.
**Interviewer:** So, it’s about reach and engagement?
**Guest:** Absolutely. X has become a unique space in South Korea. While Facebook dominates elsewhere, X remains a haven for women in their 20s and 30s.
**Interviewer:** Some might argue that sticking with X means condoning the platform’s current state. How do you respond to that?
**Guest:** It’s a fair criticism. We
**Interviewer:** Our readers are grappling with this issue too. Some feel abandoned by publications leaving X, while others understand the concerns about the platform’s direction. [Guest Name], what message do you have for our audience who might be wrestling with this dilemma?
