First the Guardian, now a BRIDGE? Clifton landmark launches boycott of Twitter and announces its suspending its use of Elon Musks platform
New changes to social media site X have proved a bridge too far for one historic landmark - as they take the high road over inappropriate content.
New changes to social media site X have proved a bridge too far for one historic landmark - as they take the high road over inappropriate content.
Clifton Suspension Bridge has hit troubled waters, saying they have decided to burn their bridges with Elon Musks platform, formerly Twitter, because of recent changes to the site.
The Bristol-based monument - famously built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel - is now taking its content elsewhere, saying earlier this week that they no longer have as much meaningful engagement with their followers.
And social media users were quick to take the mickey out of the landmark - with one laughing: Cry me a river!
Their post comes as liberal outlets including The Guardian boycott the platform, with the left wing newspaper citing often disturbing content such as far-right conspiracy theories and racism.
Clifton Suspension Bridge posted: X (formerly known as Twitter) has been a wonderful place to engage with our audience over the last 15 years. But the changes made to the platform in recent times caused us to reconsider our use of it.
Clifton Suspension Bridge has hit troubled waters, saying they have decided to burn their bridges with Elon Musk s platform, formerly Twitter , because of recent changes to the site
The Bristol-based monument - famously built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel - is now taking its content elsewhere, saying they no longer have as much meaningful engagement with their followers
Social medias were quick to take the mickey out of the landmark - with one laughing: Cry me a river!
Standing 101 metres above the Avon Gorge, it spans the 414 metre expanse between Bristol and Leigh Woods in North Somerset
With the rise in inappropriate content and decrease in meaningful engagement with our followers, we have chosen to no longer post to this account.
Their last use of their account - more than three weeks ago - saw them wishing happy travels to a group of teddy bears on an adventure in Bristol.
Before that, their last post had been in August, when they were shut for Bristols Balloon Fiesta.
Hearing their news, one commenter, Stephen Davies, laughed: Build bridges, not barriers!
Another, Matt Graver, joked that they were burning bridges while a third, called Paul, added: Cry me a river!
And another, called John, said: I am waiting for the announcement from Blackpool tower or Wigan Pier next.
Permission to build Clifton Suspension Bridge was given in 1830, and it has been up and running since 1864. A toll bridge, the iconic landmark now works as a not-for-profit charity.
First designed for light horse-drawn carriages in Victorian Britain, as many as 12,000 vehicles now cross its expanse every day.
Permission to build Clifton Suspension Bridge was given in 1830, and it has been up and running since 1864. A toll bridge, the iconic landmark now works as a not-for-profit charity
Some social media users, seeing the post, were not so amused and criticised the team behind the account for their stance
Standing 101 metres above the Avon Gorge, it spans the 414 metre expanse between Bristol and Leigh Woods in North Somerset.
But some social media users, seeing the post, were not so amused and criticised the team behind the account for their stance.
One said: A bridge, by nature spans a void. Youve just fallen into a political one. What a ridiculous statement youve made.
Another raged: A bridge is leaving a social media platform because its against free speech. Beyond satire.
A third added: For a bridge that costs £1 to cross this is ridiculous.
And another angry customer fumed: I will be taking my business to another bridge.
It comes as a series of accounts have boycotted the social media giant in the wake of the US election.
The Guardian said that the recent US presidential election had underlined its view that the online forum, formerly known as Twitter, was a toxic media platform.
The Guardian has launched a boycott of social media platform X, citing often disturbing content
The newspaper added that owner Elon Musk - the worlds richest person - had been using the services influence to shape political discourse
Insisting that the benefits of being on the platform were now outweighed by the negatives, it added that owner Elon Musk - the worlds richest person - had been using the services influence to shape political discourse.
The boycott means the The Guardian - which has more than 80 accounts and 27 million followers on X - will stop posting from its official editorial accounts on the platform. The main Guardian account on X now says: This account has been archived.
The move does not stop individual reporters using the site and X users will still be able to share its articles, but some columnists have decied to follow in the newspapers footsteps.
Environmentalist George Monbiot says that he will stop posting from January 20, instead taking to alternative social media site Bluesky.
The site - which began as a project inside Twitter - has seen an influx of more than one million users since the start of the US election as Twitter users flee misinformation.
They are said to boast a more comprehensive system for blocking and suspending harmful and problematic accounts.
Monbiot told his fans: Will you join me in setting January 20th (a significant date) for the Xodus?
Other organisations have also recently quit X, include the Berlin Film Festival and the North Wales police force.
Chief constable Amanda Blakeman said the platform was no longer consistent with our values and therefore we have withdrawn our use of it .
Musk, who describes himself as a free speech absolutist bought the social media platform in 2022 for $44bn.
The EU and campaigners have raised concerns over the way Musk is running the platform and the type of content that has been allowed on it during his tenure.
Among those previously banned individuals to have been let back on the platform include self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, British far-right figure Tommy Robinson and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Clifton Suspension Bridge has been contact for comment.
