Shoshana 🏳️‍⚧️Mar 5

Finally! Cambridge bans city departments from using X

https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/03/04/cambridge-x-twitter-ban

Cambridge bans all city departments from using the social media platform X

The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a ban Monday on city agencies using X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, starting this May. Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi, who co-sponsored the measure, said it was an idea that "came directly from our constituents."

Show threadCMar 5
@LilahTovMoon what does this accomplish?
Show threadCaden
@cfmg @LilahTovMoon hopefully setting a precedent for other city departments to move off of X
Mar 5 at 6:09amWeb
Show threadCMar 5
@tarix29 @LilahTovMoon why though? Why cant people use X?
Show threadCadenMar 5
@cfmg @LilahTovMoon so many reasons. The most relevant are that it's a right wing propaganda machine and it (with Grok) is used for generating CSAM.
Show threadCMar 6
@tarix29 @LilahTovMoon X as a platform isn't bad because it offers not only a way for people and companies to easily reach a large audience but also promotes free speech, right winged or not . Grok is a separate issue, it needs more safeguards and the freaky mode should definitely be removed
Show threadCadenMar 6
@cfmg @LilahTovMoon whether it "promotes free speech" or not (which I disagree with), it is still a right-wing propaganda machine. The recommendation algorithm heavily favors roght-wing content: https://www.avclub.com/twitter-x-amplifying-right-wing-accounts
Read this: A new report shows X is amplifying far-right accounts

Read this: A new report shows X is amplifying far-right accounts

AV Club
Show threadCMar 6
@tarix29 @LilahTovMoon There are plenty of left leaning users on X. And even if it is just right wing propoganda, it’s completely optional to use and shouldn’t be banned
Show threadCadenMar 6

@cfmg @LilahTovMoon this isn't about banning everyone from using X, it's about banning official city departments from using it to communicate with the people, since that forces people to use X if they want to stay updated on city proceedings. Without banning city departments from using it, citizens who want to stay updated do not have a choice whether they use X.

And the fact that there are plenty of left leaning users there is completely irrelevant to the point I was making: X as a platform tries to silence them and amplify the far-right.

Show threadCMar 6
@tarix29 @LilahTovMoon so then how do you suggest they communicate? Most companies also send out emails to customers.
Show threadCadenMar 6
@cfmg @LilahTovMoon as the article states, Cambridge is using Bluesky, Facebook, Nextdoor, and an email list. Other towns/cities probably won't be able to do all of that. Bluesky is the closest thing to Twitter while avoiding many of the same issues, so that might be a decent option
Show threadCMar 11
@tarix29 @LilahTovMoon but why stop using twitter? its the most widely used. They can use both
Show threadJoyful JonnyMar 5
@cfmg I don't believe for a second you are asking in good faith.