More than 50 Reddit Communities Ban X Links in Protest Against Musk

In a sweeping protest movement, over 50 Reddit communities, totaling at least 40 million members, have decided to ban links from X (formerly known as Twitter) following a controversial hand gesture by Elon Musk at a rally celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration. The gesture, which many interpreted as resembling a Nazi salute, has sparked widespread criticism and has been cited by numerous subreddit moderators as a primary reason for the ban.

The action was taken across a broad spectrum of subreddits, from those with just a handful of subscribers to others with millions, including communities focused on gaming, sports, and entertainment. Moderators of these forums have explicitly mentioned Musk's actions and the political climate on X, which they describe as increasingly hostile with unmoderated hate speech and support for far-right ideologies, as the rationale behind their decision.

In addition to banning direct links to X posts, some subreddits have also prohibited sharing screenshots of content from the platform. This move is not only a protest against Musk's actions but also an attempt to push journalists, content creators, and other personalities to migrate to alternative platforms like Bluesky. 

The protest has gained traction with posts on X itself, where users are sharing news of the ban and discussing the implications for X's visibility and user engagement. Reddit has not intervened in these community decisions, maintaining its commitment to freedom of speech and association, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the platform.

This mass action follows a period where Reddit communities have shown they can significantly influence platform policies and public discourse, similar to past protests over API access charges. The current ban on X links is seen as part of a broader pushback against perceived hate speech and political extremism on social media platforms.

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.