#exit: excitement in Vienna - Armin Wolf and Co. flee from Musk!

#exit: excitement in Vienna - Armin Wolf and Co. flee from Musk!

It is bubbling in Austria's media world, because prominent journalists and media houses demonstratively close their accounts on Elon Musk's platform X - formerly known as Twitter. Under the hashtag #exit, Armin Wolf, known as the moderator of the "Time in the Bild", and "right-wing extremism expert" Ingrid Brodnig moved her accounts to the plug. Not quiet, but with timpani and trumpets, they announced at the weekend to withdraw to the alternative Bluesky platform. This is reported by the Young freedom .

This development happens against the background of the takeover by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who wanted to convert X into a platform for "freedom of speech". However, his vision seems to have changed to a stage for disinformation and conspiracy narratives, according to the criticism of many former users. Armin Wolf, who had over 640,000 followers on X, accuses Musk that X became a playground for "aggro role", which is unreasonable for prominent users like him.

a loud departure - not only in Vienna

Austria's journalists are not alone with their retreat. The Viennese lines and the British Guardian have also deleted their digital sails on X. The orf reports that despite everything, the political parties do not seriously consider it at the moment. The ÖVP continues to communicate cheerfully, as is the FPÖ, which sees itself as "deeply democratic". Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen remains present, but expresses skeptical tones for the development of X.

The debate about the digital discourse in Austrian politics and media world is just as heated as the content on the controversial platform itself. What remains is the uncertainty about how many fans of #exit actually follow in the blue sky landscape of bluesky.

polarization and loss of dialogue

In the middle of these controversial, observers rub their eyes: How quickly can a platform become a "toxic" space for conspiracy and agitation from a revolutionary idea of ​​"global freedom of speaking". A mirror of the current quality of discourse, which is even critically eyed by Federal President Van der Bellen. But just as the Circus Maximus once attracted many, the Musk’s scene does not seem to remain empty - it is simply part of the further developing digital panorama, the true to the motto "The king is dead, long live the king" offers a scene for everyone who wants to get involved.