Statement from Southall Black Sisters on decision to leave X

[IwantToRetire]

After careful and principled consideration, Southall Black Sisters (SBS) has taken the decision to leave X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

This is not a symbolic gesture. It is a political and ethical refusal to participate in a platform that has become a conduit for misogyny, racism, disinformation, and the normalisation of violence – particularly violence against women and girls (VAWG). X increasingly facilitates the spread of dehumanising narratives that target marginalised communities and, in doing so, creates conditions that enable real-world harm. We will not be complicit in this.

We are unequivocal: VAWG is not an unfortunate by-product of online spaces – it is being actively enabled by them. These harms fall most heavily on women and children from Black, minoritised, and migrant communities, the very communities SBS has worked alongside for over four decades. A platform that tolerates, amplifies, or profits from such abuse stands in direct opposition to our values and our mission.

The recent misuse of X’s AI chatbot, Grok, to generate and circulate non-consensual sexualised images of women and children (BBC, 2026) starkly illustrates their endemic misogyny. The platform’s initial response – restricting this capability to fee-paying subscribers – did not constitute safeguarding. It was a commercial workaround that avoided accountability, trivialised gender-based violence, and signalled a profound disregard for women’s safety. While the full impact of emerging developments remains to be seen, the absence of timely and robust protections leaves us unconvinced that the platform treats VAWG with the seriousness it warrants, sending a clear message that abuse is acceptable so long as it is profitable. This environment actively silences women, deters political participation, and reinforces misogynistic norms that extend well beyond the digital sphere.

Under Elon Musk’s ownership, far-right and fascist ideologies have been allowed to flourish and be rebranded as legitimate political discourse. This has had grave consequences in the UK and internationally (The Guardian, 2025; NBC News, 2025; Sky News, 2025). X’s algorithm and the dismantling of moderation safeguards have created fertile ground for misinformation and hate. Following the 2024 Southport murders, the platform amplified false and inflammatory content, fuelling anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim narratives that contributed directly to fear, violence, and unrest in parts of the UK (Amnesty International, 2025). This is not neutral technology – it’s political infrastructure, and it is being wielded irresponsibly.

In this context, leaving X is an act of resistance. SBS refuses to lend credibility, content, or engagement to a platform that systematically undermines the safety and dignity of the communities we serve. Our commitment has always been to victim-survivors. We will not remain in a space where their lived realities are dismissed, distorted, or erased, and where abuse is allowed to thrive.

We call on the UK government to move beyond mere recognition of online harms to meaningful, sustained action that confronts structural violence and unequal impacts online. While recent policy efforts, including the Online Safety Act, signal an acknowledgement of these issues, the reality on the ground remains deeply concerning – particularly for women and girls from Black, minoritised, and migrant communities who continue to experience disproportionate levels of abuse, silencing, and exclusion. We urge the government to work in genuine partnership with SBS and the communities we serve to ensure that online spaces are safe, accountable and equitable – where protections are not just theoretical, but real, enforceable, and grounded in the lived experiences of those most harmed. We further call on policymakers to actively resist attempts by far-right and fascist actors to exploit online platforms for political influence and legitimacy, and to reaffirm an unwavering commitment to public safety, human rights, and equality for all.

We encourage everyone unsettled by X’s harmful environment to also walk away and engage in constructive alternative spaces for discussion.

SBS will continue to engage with communities on other platforms:
Facebook: @Southall Black Sisters
Instagram: @southallblacksisters
LinkedIn: @Southall Black Sisters
Bluesky: @sbsisters.bsky.social

We remain fully committed to supporting victim-survivors through our helpline (020 8571 0800) and via our website: southallblacksisters.org.uk.

https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/news/our-decision-to-leave-x/

Had a quick search and as far as I can see not many other women's groups who provide services to women survivors of male violence have done this.

Although it turns out Refuge left X a year ago, which as a group seen as being less radical than other women's groups is quite interesting.

I think Solace WA has also left, and Rape Crisis South London. Also Women's Aid Ireland.

Probably others.

I don't know how much influence X actually has but I do think you need to be on a site if you want your views represented. Most of it is probably a huge waste of time anyway. I'm not leaving X because I like all the GC commentators on there. And there was a lot of feminist pushback to the undressing images. ( I'm not claiming that's why that function was deactivated) It's interesting to see the AI function play out in real time. People are seeing what it can do. It often makes stuff up or lies. Interesting times.

Good for them
I agree it's hard if you are a woman's group or similar and need to get information or advice out - the more platforms the better. But I hate how people are essentially held hostage to sites like that.for that reason. Even the algorithm is designed to get in the way of proper communication. And that was before it started creating nudes and child nudes. On the one hand "women shouldn't post on X if they don't want people to generate nudes of their pictures" on the other "if you don't want to post on X then you aren't willing to reach out to other groups" etc.

Eventually though it will turn so many people of it eventually goes the way of MySpace. Or that's my hope anyway. There has to come a tipping point where it's just not worthwhile any more.

I'm not defending it at all but for accuracy they weren't nudes. Grok was allowing people to create images of people including children in swimwear. It was gross, non consensual and upsetting but not nudes.

Oh yawn.

Do we really think Grok is the only AI tool that can be used for ill? Also, it wasn't creating deepfake porn. I'll stay on Twix as long as Helen Joyce does, and as for Bluesky, well, if you want a real echo-chamber, you can go there.

Good for SBS and Refuge before them.👏👏👏

On one of the many Grok Porn threads I asked X users if they knew of any feminist pushback on the site itself. No one knew of any. I find this suss as fuck as so many fearless, vocal feminists are on X.

Aren't SBS fairly firm on single sex spaces?

In which case, the best of luck to them on Bluesky.

Actually I think Twitter should have one of these: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/flouncers_corner

I think the issue is why stick with X when in terms of out reach it is virtually irrelevant because it is one of the least used platforms.

But also in terms of their purpose why are they not at least boycotting it to put pressure on them.

The same could be said of individual women who remain on it.

Just to repeat X is one of the least used social media platforms so it is almost perverse to stick with it, for groups who are wanting outreach, let alone individual women wanting to stay informed.

And in fact for women who claim to be feminist to say on it and do nothing, it damages their reputation.

Wanting to be followers of women who apparently dont care about the contradiction, makes you wonder about why you would want to follow them.

Particularly when many are on other platforms.

Lots of women I follow were pushing back about this. I didn't bookmark and have the attention span of a gnat so not sure who now. There were arguments where blokes were saying: 'it's only what you see on a beach' and women saying 'If I wear a bikini on a beach then I'm consenting to being seen in a bikini. Someone creating an image of me in a bikini is something I haven't consented to.' X is so huge that you only ever see a tiny amount of what goes on so it's easy to miss stuff.

Totally agree.

I just cant get my head around it!

I think quite a few women / women's groups fell for the false info that Bluesky would be different.

But very much doubt that SBS enters into discussion with any one. They certainly dont on facebook. Its just to put into the public domain information they want women to have acess to.

Thank you!

I didn't know about this.

Am off to have a read.

Also makes me wonder why more women's groups aren't on mumsnet as basically MNers are their target audience.

Another problem is, if you do criticise it on X you are then inviting people to start posting bikini images of you. So unless you already are used to arguments where you know you will receive aggressive pish back (which GC women are) then it is quite tempting to keep your head down. If for example I was a woman who posted about gardening tips I don't think that is the time I'd decide to get involved in women's rights.

You're right I shouldn't have said nudes. Thanks for correcting. I will change that to pornified images since it's not just bikinis, it also lets the user make it look like the bikinis too small, pose them in stereotypical porn tropes, add "forced smiles" etc.

An ethical refusal to participate in a site that reflects how people (men) think and behave in the real world? Having been banned from Twitter for expressing GC views, I appreciate being allowed back so I can challenge - or simply mock - the views I find abhorrent and read the opinions of people I both agree and disagree with as well as find links to interesting articles. If there is another site that does this, please let me know because I know from experience that blusky ain't it.

Perhaps 10 years ago, but I'm sceptical that there is much benefit to organisations being on twitter now.

People who follow them anyway can receive their news other ways, and the algorithm is designed to farm outrage, not to communicate.

Exactly, it is perverse to stay on twitter.

Any more than saying that because sometimes there are interesting is strip clubs you are going to go on being a member of one.

I am particularly amazed that women who put themselves forward as commentators on women's rights are still there.

But of course part of this is ego.

The main reason for being on twitter is because lazy journalists love to use it to create shock horror headlines.

And rather than this being a convenient short cut for women who say they are feminist to be noticed, it just continues what is in fact being underminded by the context of "being listened" to.

Users are also inviting removal of the Blue Tick, demonetisation and Shadow banning by X itself.

add "forced smiles etc."

Like bruising. Ball gags. Sexualised positioning and the rest!🤢🤢🤮

The idea that Musk gives a shit about free speech, women, children, or anyone other than himself, is for the birds.

10 Oct 2025 tweet from KJK-

Today a speaker from Southall black sisters gave a talk at filia stating she refused to condemn the actions of Hamas (violence against women) because the Israeli governmemt is evil and led chants of free Palestine. Several Jewish women left in distress.

It's all performative outrage because they hate the right wing discourse on X.

Or maybe, in January 2026, SBS had enough. Like women all over the UK. Like right thinking people all over the world!

Where else do you suggest women's rights commentators go? BlueSky won't let you say transwomen are men. I can't think of another platform where its so easy to find out what's happening in your particular area of interest ( in my case, the gender wars).

It's not how many people use X, it's who and how it works. I thought this article in The Critic was interesting: thecritic.co.uk/why-twitter-matters/

There was plenty of pushback on the platform, and plenty of pushers back had the most awful things said to them.

I follow many interesting accounts on X that aren't on the circlejerk of superiority that is bluesky (i also follow many interesting accounts on BS now, but i am careful about what i look at on there)

I get info about women in Afghanistan, Iran, men against FGM (several accounts) etc etc. Not to mention the GC accounts.