When Elon Musk took the reins of Twitter (now X) just two years ago, the platform promised to become a bastion of free speech. Instead, it has devolved into a chaotic stew of misinformation, bots and unchecked content — driving many prominent Christians to seek alternative platforms.
Take Beth Moore, the beloved Bible teacher and author, for example. Moore has been a fixture on Christian Twitter for nearly a decade, sharing everything from her thoughts on faith leaders to her love for her local Whataburger. But at the end of October, she announced her departure from the platform. Just two weeks later, she posted her first message on Threads, signaling she’d found a new home.
View on Threads
Moore’s decision to leave didn’t come out of nowhere. Over the summer, she shared her mixed feelings about staying on X and her concerns about abandoning it entirely.
Some further thoughts: the p0rn is very offensive to me but it doesn’t tempt me. I’ve had a lot of issues but I’ve not this one. One thing that worries me is that we surely have numerous people in our community who’ve struggled with it. Is it irresponsible of us, then, to stay?…
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) June 4, 2024
Moore’s dilemma resonates with many faith leaders, and her departure is part of a larger trend. But why exactly are Christians fleeing Twitter/X?
Bots and Spam: A Digital Noise Machine
Once a vibrant space for real-time conversations and genuine connections, X now feels like shouting into a void filled with bots and AI-generated spam. Studies show that bots make up a significant portion of X’s user base, and their influence is far from benign. These fake accounts flood the platform with scams, extremist propaganda, and divisive rhetoric.
Cybersecurity firm CHEQ highlighted this issue in February, tracking the proportion of bot traffic from X to its clients’ websites. The result? Roughly 75% of X’s traffic was fake, compared to less than 3% from TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
For Christians trying to have thoughtful discussions about faith or social justice, this overwhelming noise makes engagement nearly impossible. How can you share the gospel or engage in meaningful debate when many of the responses come from bots spouting conspiracy theories?
X’s Explicit Content Problem
The platform’s loosened moderation policies have also led to a significant rise in explicit content. For Christians who prioritize guarding their hearts and minds, scrolling through X now feels like navigating a digital minefield.
In May 2024, X updated its policies regarding adult content, including AI-generated material. According to the new guidelines: “We believe that users should be able to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes as long as it is consensually produced and distributed. Sexual expression, visual or written, can be a legitimate form of artistic expression.”
While X positions this as a step toward inclusivity, many users see it as a green light for explicit material to dominate their feeds. The systemic nature of the problem — where algorithms prioritize provocative content — makes it even harder to curate a healthy, uplifting experience.
The Shrinking Safety Net
Perhaps most troubling is the overhaul of X’s terms of service, which reduces protections against harassment, hate speech, and doxxing. The platform’s updated Terms of Service, effective November 15, grant Elon Musk’s AI bot, Grok, the right to train on users’ content, even if their accounts are locked.
Worse, opting out of Grok training is unclear under the new ToS. Users who disagree with these changes have limited recourse, as legal disputes must be fought in a rural Texas court that has previously issued rulings favorable to Musk.
Free speech, it seems, now comes at a cost. For researchers and organizations tracking hate speech, the ToS includes a potential $15,000 fine for exceeding a million tweets per day — a move critics say will chill vital work monitoring the platform’s content.
What’s Left to Save?
Despite all this, some Christians argue there’s still value in staying. X remains a powerful tool for activism and awareness, amplifying movements like #ChurchToo and providing a platform for those in crisis to share their stories. For justice-minded believers, the potential for global impact can’t be ignored.
Others believe staying is a form of resistance. Abandoning X might mean leaving it entirely to the chaos, silencing voices of reason and hope. For some, being a light in the darkness feels like a responsibility, even in an increasingly toxic space.
But even with these arguments, the question remains: At what cost? Are Christians enabling the mess by staying, or is there still a way to redeem the platform for truth and meaningful connection?
Maybe it’s time for Christians to take stock of why they’re still there. Is it to shine light, or just to doomscroll? If the mission is unclear, perhaps the most faithful step forward is the exit sign.
What do you think? Is X still worth your time, or is it time to move on?
