A coordinated European initiative, backed by an open letter and petition data, is urging political leaders to leave X (formerly Twitter), citing democratic integrity concerns and presenting concrete alternatives like Mastodon.
A campaign called #LeaveX is making a direct, data-backed appeal to European politicians and leaders: abandon X (formerly Twitter). The initiative, which launched with an open letter on January 6, 2025, has evolved into a sustained effort that combines political advocacy with practical technical alternatives. The core argument is not merely ideological but is supported by tracking the continued presence of elected officials on the platform.
The Core Claim and Its Evidence
The central document is the Open Letter to All European Politicians and Leaders to Abandon X/Twitter. The letter articulates a specific concern: that by maintaining an official presence on X, political leaders lend legitimacy to a platform whose ownership and governance structure are seen as incompatible with democratic principles. The letter is available in multiple European languages, acknowledging the transnational nature of the issue.
To move beyond rhetoric, the campaign has compiled detailed statistics on the usage of X by European politicians. As of their latest data, approximately 60% of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) remain active on the platform. This translates to 428 out of 719 MEPs. The data is further broken down by country and political group, providing a granular view of the situation. For instance, in the Netherlands, 60% of politicians (90 out of 150) are still on X, while in Austria, the figure is significantly lower at 19% (34 out of 183). This quantitative approach shifts the conversation from abstract principles to measurable action.
The Argument Against "Strategic Presence"
A common counter-argument is that politicians must remain on X to "provide opposition" or reach a broad audience. The campaign directly refutes this position in a dedicated article titled "Why the argument that you have to stay on social networks to provide opposition is complete nonsense." The piece argues that this stance is fundamentally flawed. It posits that by staying, politicians inadvertently amplify the platform's reach and value, making it more difficult for users to leave. The article suggests that a coordinated departure would be a more powerful statement, forcing a public conversation about the platform's role in the political sphere.
Concrete Alternatives: Mastodon and Open Portability
The campaign does not advocate for a vacuum. Instead, it points to specific, decentralized alternatives. A recent post from January 20, 2026, highlights "Concrete European alternatives to X: Mastodon and Open Portability." This is a crucial part of the proposal. Mastodon, a decentralized social network built on the ActivityPub protocol, allows for the creation of independent servers ("instances") that can communicate with each other. This model is presented as a way to regain control over data, moderation, and community standards.
The mention of "Open Portability 2026" points to a broader, forward-looking goal. It suggests a push for interoperability standards that would allow users to move their social graph and data between different platforms, reducing the lock-in effect of centralized networks like X. This aligns with ongoing regulatory efforts in the EU, such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates interoperability for designated "gatekeeper" platforms.
Campaign Tactics and Public Engagement
Beyond the letter and data, the campaign employs direct engagement strategies. The "Leave X Peer Persuasion Award" (mentioned in a January 18, 2026 post) appears to be a mechanism to recognize and encourage politicians who do leave the platform. This creates a positive feedback loop, turning a private decision into a public, commendable action.
The initiative also maintains a blog with regular updates, including reflections from specific locations (e.g., "Greetings from Muskau" from February 2025), which adds a human, narrative element to the data-driven campaign.
Context and Limitations
The #LeaveX campaign operates within a specific political and technological context. It is a response to the ownership and policy changes on Twitter following its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022. The campaign's focus on European politicians is strategic, given the EU's aggressive regulatory stance on big tech.
However, the campaign's success hinges on a collective action problem. While the data shows a majority of MEPs are still on X, convincing a critical mass to leave simultaneously is challenging. The platform's network effects are powerful; abandoning it means losing access to a large, real-time audience, including journalists and other politicians. The campaign's argument is that this short-term cost is outweighed by the long-term benefit of fostering healthier, more democratic communication channels.
The technical feasibility of a mass migration to platforms like Mastodon is also a consideration. While Mastodon is mature, its federated model can be confusing for new users, and the experience varies significantly between instances. The campaign's emphasis on "European alternatives" may also imply a preference for instances or platforms hosted within the EU, subject to GDPR and other regional regulations.
In essence, #LeaveX is more than a protest; it is a structured attempt to leverage data, political advocacy, and technical alternatives to orchestrate a shift in how European leaders conduct public communication online. Its progress is being tracked in real-time, offering a case study in digital-era political activism.
Related Resources:
- LeaveX Official Website
- Mastodon - Decentralized social network
- ActivityPub Protocol - The underlying standard for decentralized social networking
- Digital Markets Act (DMA) - EU regulation targeting platform gatekeepers
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