Declining Engagement Leads Newsrooms to Re-evaluate X (Twitter) Usage

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:39:00 +0200

A growing number of newsrooms are reevaluating their presence on X (formerly Twitter) as engagement rates continue to decline. Analysis from NiemanLab and data compiled by Elon Musk's critics, including Nate Silver, reveal a stark shift in the platform's dynamics. Newsrooms are observing poor engagement on their posts, even when accompanied by links, and are facing a platform increasingly dominated by conservative influencers and low-quality content. Silver’s assessment, which highlighted the outsized engagement of right-wing influencer “Catturd” compared to accounts like The New York Times, has been dismissed by Musk as 'bullshit.' However, NiemanLab’s own investigation generally supports Silver’s claims, noting widespread poor engagement for newsrooms publishing links. This shift is leading many organizations to question the value of maintaining a significant presence on the platform. The data also reveals a trend towards lower quality content and a move away from the platform’s prev