Media Meltdown: Leftists Leave X and Nobody Misses Them
November 15, 2024.png)
Key Takeaways
- Prominent leftist media figures like Don Lemon and Joy Reid announce they are leaving X, with little impact.
- Online reactions are mostly negative, but those with positive sentiment are celebrating the departures as a win for alternative media.
- More Americans are abandoning legacy media outlets and finding amusement in a crumbling industry which seems to fast be losing power.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
1,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
2 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
Several leftist figures from news media like Don Lemon, Joy Reid, and The Guardian have announced their plans to leave X (formerly Twitter). This dramatic exodus is occurring against a backdrop of significant upheaval in traditional media.
Online discussions often view rumors of CNN facing layoffs, Comcast potentially selling MSNBC, major ratings declines, and Chris Wallace jumping ship from CNN as dying last gasps of legacy media. Elon Musk’s comment that “You are the media now!” captures a growing sentiment that corporate media is no longer the power center of information.
This platform is at all-time highs.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2024
You are the media now. https://t.co/8Zy049xGAh
Making a Dramatic Exit from X
Reactions to prominent left-leaning figures leaving X are varied, but mostly unified against those leaving. This is demonstrated in a resounding ratio on Don Lemon’s announcement video and claims that Lemon didn’t actually leave.
Here's why I'm leaving Twitter... pic.twitter.com/VIope68L2k
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) November 13, 2024
Much of the commentary is negative, criticizing Lemon and others for abandoning X in a useless protest of the inevitable evolution of news. The lesser number of positive comments still criticize the Guardian, Reid, and Lemon, saying the chaff is separating itself.
Joy Reid just deleted her X account 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sqwZyJkBYA
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 14, 2024
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63% Negative Sentiment
- Many view these exits from X as symptomatic of a biased new media who are incapable of withstanding opposing viewpoints.
- Negative comments accuse those leaving of running from the new reality of media, thus personifying legacy media’s failure to adapt and include all voices.
- People point out the shrinking pool of critical voices in media who are willing to hold politicians and institutions accountable. They say the leftist media would prefer to censor platforms like X, rather than integrate into the new media paradigm.
29% Positive or Neutral Sentiment
- About a third of responses voice approval over the X departures. They say it allows for new voices to emerge in an environment less dominated by leftist corporate media figures.
- This group says things like, “Good riddance to biased reporting” and “We need more diverse voices not tied to the mainstream.” They hope X will foster independent journalism not influenced by corporate or partisan forces.
- People view X under Elon Musk as a victory for free speech, seeing it as fertile ground for alternative perspectives and causing a tantrum among corporate media elites who are losing their grip on power.
8% Concerned Sentiment
- A smaller fraction of comments is ambivalent but acknowledges both the potential positives and negatives of these high-profile departures.
- There's a sense of uncertainty, as people grapple with the long-term impact on media quality and public discourse online.
- Many in this camp worry the total collapse of legacy media might contribute to ideological echo chambers and the proliferation of “misinformation.”
Declining Trust in Legacy Media
Reactions to these dramatic exits are compounded by an ongoing bloodbath in legacy media credibility.
- CNN Layoffs: Rumored CNN layoffs are seen as the continuation of a downward trend for legacy news, which struggles to maintain relevance post-election.
- Comcast Selling MSNBC: Reports that Comcast is looking to sell MSNBC reinforces beliefs that news outlets have lost their once-powerful influence.
- Ratings Declines: Major networks are reporting significant rating drops over the past year, further decimating the sentiment of distrust among viewers.
- Reshaping News: A major news figure like Chris Wallace leaving CNN and saying podcasts are the future also indicates growing realizations within media ranks of the shifting reality.
More Americans say legacy media is out of touch with and fixated on advancing specific agendas rather than delivering reliable news. Increasingly, people are opting for independent and grassroots media sources, which they find on platforms like X and view as more genuine and less beholden to corporate interests.
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Independent and Decentralized Media
Americans, particularly those on the right, place more trust in independent and decentralized media channels that bypass legacy gatekeepers. They want platforms where their perspectives can be freely shared without censorship or derision.
- Direct Channels: Figures like Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson have built large followings by leveraging podcasts and social media as direct channels for unfiltered commentary. People see these figures as better alternatives to biased traditional media.
- Free Speech: Many Americans see decentralized platforms like X as essential to free speech. By allowing diverse voices without institutional curation, platforms like X provide what voters feel is a more balanced discourse.
- User Engagement Data: Social media engagement metrics show a steady increase in user participation on independent platforms, with conservative audiences comprising a significant portion of these active users.
The embrace of alternative media reflects a rejection of legacy media’s perceived elitism and disconnect from mainstream America. Online discourse confirms the sentiment as people move away from television news to online platforms.
Media Viewership vs. 𝕏
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) November 8, 2024
Trends indicate that people are moving away from the legacy media. pic.twitter.com/rhTnUdNdCH
Participatory Media
Musk’s “You are the media now” sentiment embodies the shift toward participatory media, which empowers individual users over institutional authorities. As a result, more Americans feel they have a direct role in shaping political discourse, further diminishing legacy media’s influence.
- Public Response: Many conservative voters view Musk’s statement as a call to action, empowering them to contribute directly to the public discourse.
- Participation: By eliminating traditional gatekeepers, participatory media encourages a free flow of ideas, allowing the people to interact directly with rich and powerful influencers like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan.
- Future Outlook: Many say legacy media will continue to lose relevance as younger generations abandon traditional institutions. They say the 2024 election sealed the fate of legacy institutions which were already crumbling.
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