Elon Musk changed the name to X after purchasing Online. ( Getty Images )
In a move that was commonly condemned, Elon Musk’s X system, which was formerly Online, ten months ago, reversed a crucial coverage protecting transgender people from misgendering and deadnaming.
In the wake of the decision, X immediately fell behind other social media platforms like Pinterest and TikTok, both of which have expressly prohibited misgendering, deadnaming, hatred, and the advertising of” conversion therapy” practices.
Elon Musk suggested that his own tweets may offend the 2018 plan, so the guideline was quietly dropped as a result of this controversial choice. It appears that X just as slowly reinstated the original plan, which was implemented in January 2024.
According to Ars Technica, X’s updated plan confirms that it will “reduce the presence of posts that deliberately address someone other than what that man uses for themselves, or that employ a previous brand that people no more goes by as part of their transition.”
LGBTQ+ journalist Ari Drennen picked up the report, tweeted it to her followers, and wrote,” Do n’t look now but X ( formerly Twitter ) quietly restored their ban on misgendering and deadnaming trans people – as long as it’s reported by the target.”
The policy’s restoration comes in the wake of numerous prominent LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals quitting X, citing a surge in anti-LGBT+ and anti-trans “hate and invective” on the system.
One user tweeted,” Had to go look for myself,” in response to the news of the shift. It says 2024 January. Putting it back so subtly slowly. For using the word” cis,” I just received a violation. Astounding.”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Another said,” Someone had to learn enough to broaden their view, or the business was going to face legal consequences.” However, we did not know.
It’s not clear whether any LGBTQ+ organizations that have left the system will ever have any impact on the platform’s total safety.
The Trevor Project, a non-profit LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization, announced its formal withdrawal from X in November 2023, stating that “LGBTQ+ young people are frequently victimized at the cost of their mental health and X’s elimination of specific tolerance works makes it more difficult for us to create a welcoming place for them on this platform.”
In October 2023, the transgender donation Mermaids made a similar statement, when did LGBTQ Youth Scotland and The San Francisco LGBT Center in May 2023.
