A flood of LGBTQ+ accounts have been suspended from X, and one high-profile agency is trying to get to the bottom of the issue. It has prompted major questions from LGBTQ advocates, particularly – what is going on at X?
Hundreds of X Accounts
X, formerly known as Twitter, is one of the most high-profile social media platforms on the internet. So when more than 200 LGBTQ accounts were suspended for vague or even non-existent reasons, you can bet it drew attention.
Pink Media Affected
Pink Media, a social media marketing agency that helps “companies large and small target their specific demographic within the LGBTQ online community,” released a public statement alleging that all of their accounts had been suspended on the platform earlier this month.
Its “Entire Network” Removed
According to the agency, at around 6:30 a.m. EST on July 4, more than 250 accounts, which made up their “entire network of profiles,” had been removed from the site.
Because of a “User Report”
The company claims that they were given no specific reason as to why their accounts were removed, and only told that it was the result of an unspecified “user report” that had accused the accounts of breaking X user rules.
All of the Accounts
Pink Media expressed skepticism over this answer, as all of their accounts, including ones that were “more business-focused and not part of the #ILoveGay network,” were taken down at the exact same time.
A Potential “Takedown”
“It’s suggesting that someone inside X had done their homework and that this was a well-researched and well-prepared takedown of a network of LGBTQ+ X profiles that had well over 1 million followers worldwide,” the statement read.
Many Other Accounts Affected
This mass suspension occurred around the same time that hundreds of other LGBTQ-related accounts were deleted from the site, allegedly without cause.
Tourism Accounts Targeted
These deleted accounts included LGBTQ tourism accounts, such as Palm Springs’ Gay Desert Guide, Alan Beck’s FunMaps, and Visit Britain’s GayBritain account, the owners of which have also maintained that they were deleted without being given fair reasons.
Russian Sock Puppets
During the same period, nearly 1,000 pro-Russian accounts, known as “sock puppets,” were also wiped from the platform. ‘Sock puppet’ is a term referring to fake accounts made for deceptive purposes, often to push an agenda or manipulate public opinion.
A Shock For Pink Media
Matthew Skallerud, president of Pink Media, spoke to The Advocate about the organization’s shock and surprise at having their profiles removed.
On the Heels of Pride
Not only were the removals hot on the heels of Pride Month, but the agency also orchestrated an extremely successful Pride ad campaign that garnered more than 17 million views.
“The Specifics Were Vague”
“We just got flooded with hundreds of emails from X saying we’d been suspended. The specifics were vague; it was based on a user report, but the reason was left blank,” Skallerud explained.
A Coordinated Plan?
Many are now speculating that this flood of unjustified deletions on X points to a broader, coordinated plan to edge LGBTQ content off the platform by hampering the outreach and visibility of popular queer organizations.
A Well-Established Advocate
Pink Media has drawn significant attention to the potential of an anti-LGBTQ bias at X, as it is a well-established advocate in the LGBTQ community, amplifying the voices of queer people across the world.
GLAAD Supports Them
So much attention, in fact, that GLAAD – one of America’s foremost non-profit organizations advocating for LGBTQ inclusion and representation in media – has condemned the suspension and urged X CEO Linda Yaccarino to reverse the platform’s decision.
“Extremely Concerning”
“It is extremely concerning that any social media platform would systematically suspend the accounts of one of the leading LGBTQ media networks, seemingly without reason,” a GLAAD spokesperson announced.
A “Despicable” Decision
The nonprofit also described the continual unjustified suspensions as “despicable” and a very real cause of harm to LGBTQ users and advertisers on X.
Calling on Yaccarino
“GLAAD urges X, and specifically CEO Linda Yaccarino, to convey an explanation justifying their reasoning and to restore the accounts,” the spokesperson concluded.
75 Appeals Ignored
Despite filing 75 appeals and review requests to have the suspension lifted, as well as multiple attempts to contact human representatives at X, Skallerud confirmed that Pink Media had received no non-automated response.
The Worst Platform for LGBTQ?
These recent suspensions are far from the first issue at X that has drawn criticisms and accusations of encouraging and protecting anti-LGBTQ sentiment. GLAAD’s Annual Social Media Safety Index Report for 2024 now ranks X as the worst platform for LGBTQ+ users.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Frederic Legrand – COMEO.
