Why I’m Leaving X (for Now)

As somebody who has long understood the power of social platforms to amplify voices and build community, the decision to step back from X has not come lightly. This platform, once a vibrant space for connection and conversation, has devolved into a hostile environment where anti-Blackness thrives, digital rights are trampled, and accountability is nonexistent. Here’s why I’ve decided to leave X and what it signifies for our digital future.

A Platform Overrun with Anti-Blackness

The systemic failure of X to protect its Black users is glaringly evident. Recently, I conducted an experiment: I reported 20 explicitly racist posts, each featuring slurs and dehumanizing language. These were not borderline cases but blatantly hateful content. Yet, X’s response was consistent: “This doesn’t violate our policies.”

This indifference to overt racism sends a clear message—X has no intention of prioritizing safety for marginalized communities. The normalization of hate speech, paired with the platform’s refusal to address user complaints, perpetuates a dangerous environment that disproportionately harms Black users.

Disinformation: A Feature, Not a Bug

One of the most alarming aspects of X’s current trajectory is its apparent reward system for disinformation. Inaccurate and inflammatory content is routinely boosted by the algorithm, creating an ecosystem where lies outpace truth. This is not incidental—it’s structural. Disinformation garners attention, and attention fuels engagement, which translates to profit.

This deliberate amplification of falsehoods has devastating consequences. It keeps the masses misinformed, fuels polarization, and manufactures conflict where none existed. Whether it’s denial of systemic racism, demonization of marginalized communities, or outright propaganda, the platform’s prioritization of divisive narratives actively undermines the pursuit of justice and truth.

Disinformation doesn’t just mislead—it erodes the very foundation of collective understanding, making solidarity and coordinated action harder to achieve. For a platform that wields such immense influence over public discourse, this is not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous.

Digital Rights Eroded

The platform’s new Terms of Service, effective November 15, 2024, mark a low point for user rights. Key changes include:

  • AI Training Clause: User content is now explicitly used to train generative AI models, with no opt-out or compensation.
  • Broad Content License: X retains a worldwide, irrevocable license to modify and sublicense all user-generated content.
  • No Right to Privacy: Even private messages can be analyzed for ad targeting and AI development.

These policies strip users of agency and transparency, prioritizing corporate interests over the rights and dignity of the community.

A Leadership Crisis

Under its current ownership, X has embraced a culture of gaslighting and misinformation. The platform’s refusal to confront historical injustices mirrors broader systemic failures. When hate speech is framed as “free speech” and calls for accountability are dismissed as “mind viruses,” it becomes clear that this is not a space where justice can flourish.

A Broken Block Feature

Another glaring issue is the broken block feature. Despite claims of offering tools for user safety, X has made it so that blocking someone no longer fully prevents them from seeing your activity. This means that racists, stalkers, and trolls can continue to monitor and engage with users even after being blocked.

This failure to implement a functional block feature is not just an oversight—it’s a deliberate choice that prioritizes engagement metrics over user well-being. By eroding one of the most basic tools for self-protection, X leaves its most vulnerable users exposed to relentless harassment and harm. This is yet another way the platform perpetuates a hostile environment under the guise of free expression.

What Needs to Change

Leaving X doesn’t mean abandoning hope for what digital platforms can achieve. It means demanding better:

  1. User-Friendly Terms of Service: Policies that protect privacy, enforce accountability, and respect user-generated content.
  2. Active Enforcement of Safety Policies: A zero-tolerance approach to racism, harassment, and other forms of hate.
  3. Structural Change: Whether through new leadership, nationalization, or stringent regulation, X must evolve to serve its users equitably.

Moving Forward

I’m not deleting my account entirely, but I’ll be erasing older content and leaving only posts that align with equity and justice. If X decides to train their AI models on my anti-imperialist and anti-militarist content, so be it. But for now, I refuse to endorse a platform complicit in the spread of hate, the amplification of lies, and the erosion of digital rights.

Social media platforms are not inherently neutral—they reflect the priorities of those who build and run them. Until X prioritizes its users over its profits, I’ll be leaving X and seeking spaces that align with my values and allow me to contribute meaningfully without compromise.

Stay Connected

While I’m leaving X, the conversation doesn’t stop. You can find me on Bluesky, where I’ll continue to share thoughts, ideas, and discussions rooted in justice and liberation. Connect with me at @hashimmteuzi.com—let’s keep building the world we want to see, together.

Let’s not normalize platforms that dehumanize. Let’s build and demand better.

The Troubled Waters of the Seine: Pollution, Olympic Athletes, and Unlikely Remedies

Cover image for blog article. The text The Troubled Waters of the Seine: Pollution, Olympic Athletes, and Unlikely Remedies overlayed on an image of post-apocalyptic Paris.

As the world watches the 2024 Paris Olympics, a different kind of struggle is taking place in the heart of the French capital. The Seine River, a historic and cultural icon, has become the focal point of controversy as it hosts several Olympic events despite its troubled waters. What was once a picturesque backdrop to Parisian life has, over the decades, become a symbol of urban pollution and environmental neglect. Today, the river’s poor water quality is not just an eyesore—it’s a health hazard, particularly for the world-class athletes who are now swimming in its murky depths.

A History of Pollution

The pollution of the Seine has deep roots, dating back to the Industrial Revolution when the river became a convenient dumping ground for various forms of waste, including industrial chemicals, human sewage, and stormwater runoff. Over the years, this relentless pollution took a heavy toll on the river’s ecosystem. By the 1970s, oxygen levels in the water were so low that only three species of fish could survive, and the bacterial contamination, especially E. coli, reached dangerous levels. Parisian authorities have been aware of these issues for decades, and numerous efforts to clean up the Seine have been undertaken, but progress has been slow and inconsistent. For more, read The Seine’s Polluted Past: Industrial Revolution and Beyond.

  • Olympic swimmers navigate the Seine River, with paramedics and ambulances on standby. Coca-Cola bottles and snacks are visible on a table in the foreground.
  • Swimmers in the Seine are surrounded by paramedics in Coca-Cola-branded ambulances, with Coca-Cola bottles arranged on a table.
  • A post-apocalyptic scene along the Seine with a Coca-Cola-branded hazmat ambulance. Empty Coke bottles are scattered on a table.
  • A dystopian vision of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower looming over a polluted Seine. A decaying Coca-Cola hazmat ambulance and empty Coke bottles set the eerie scene.

The 2024 Olympics: A Catalyst for Change?

This year’s Olympics provided a significant reason for a renewed effort to clean up the Seine. In preparation for the games, the French government and the city of Paris committed to a $1.5 billion initiative aimed at making the river swimmable again. This ambitious project included overhauling the city’s aging sewer system, constructing large underground storage basins to capture rainwater, and upgrading wastewater treatment plants. The goal was not only to protect the athletes competing in the open-water swimming events and the triathlon but also to create a lasting legacy for Parisians by restoring the Seine to a state where it could be safely enjoyed by the public.

Despite these efforts, the river’s recovery has been uneven. While there have been periods when water quality tests showed the Seine to be within safe levels for swimming, these results have often been fleeting. Heavy rainfall continues to overwhelm the city’s combined sewer system, leading to the discharge of untreated wastewater directly into the river. As a result, bacterial levels, including those of E. coli, frequently spike to dangerous levels, prompting Olympic officials to delay or cancel events to protect the athletes.

The Health Risks Facing Olympians

For the athletes, swimming in the Seine is not just another challenge; it’s a gamble with their health. E. coli, a bacterium commonly found in human waste, is a particular concern. Exposure to E. coli-contaminated water can lead to a range of illnesses, from gastrointestinal distress to more severe infections. During the recent Olympic events, several athletes have reported feeling unwell after competing in the river, raising alarms about the true safety of the Seine.

In response to these risks, some athletes have resorted to a rather unconventional remedy: drinking Coca-Cola immediately after leaving the water. This practice, based on the belief that the acidity of Coke can neutralize harmful bacteria in the digestive tract, has become something of a folk remedy among open-water swimmers. While the logic behind this practice is questionable—medical experts have pointed out that the stomach’s natural acidity is far more potent than that of any soft drink—the fact that athletes feel the need to take such measures speaks volumes about the risks they perceive.

The Coca-Cola Myth and the Realities of Contaminated Water

The use of Coca-Cola as a post-race “cure” is not entirely without merit, though not for the reasons some athletes might think. While Coke won’t kill bacteria, its high sugar content can provide a quick source of energy to athletes depleted by their exertions. However, relying on sugary sodas to combat the effects of swimming in polluted water is a far cry from an ideal solution. It highlights a deeper issue: the inadequacy of the Seine’s current state to safely host Olympic events.

For those watching the Olympics from the safety of their homes, it’s easy to underestimate just how dangerous swimming in contaminated water can be. Bacteria like E. coli are invisible to the naked eye, but their effects can be devastating. From stomach cramps and diarrhea to more severe infections, the health risks are real and significant. Moreover, these risks aren’t limited to athletes. If the Seine remains unsafe, the broader goal of opening it to the public for recreational use could lead to widespread health issues in the future.

What Happens Next

The Seine River’s plight is a cautionary tale about the consequences of urban pollution and the challenges of environmental restoration. While the efforts to clean up the river for the 2024 Olympics are commendable (and costly), they haven’t been enough to fully mitigate the risks. As athletes continue to compete in these less-than-ideal conditions, it’s clear that more work is needed to ensure the Seine can truly be considered safe.

The story of the Seine is far from over. Beyond the spectacle of the Olympics, there lies the ongoing challenge of balancing urban development with environmental stewardship. The lessons learned here in Paris could very well serve as a blueprint—or a warning—for other cities facing similar issues around the world. For now, as the world watches the games unfold, the hope is that the legacy of the 2024 Olympics will be more than just medals and memories, but a safer, cleaner Seine for generations to come.