‘Our Break up Is Overdue’: State Government Department Quits Elon Musk’s ‘X’

This photo illustration shows the X logo (formerly Twitter) on a smartphone screen in Los Angeles, California, on July 31, 2023. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP) Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images

A Victorian state government department has quit X (formerly Twitter), claiming the breakup is “long overdue,” in a final post to the platform.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing will be switching to other platforms to share their publicity with the community.

The Department’s page has 2,752 followers and typically posts a few times a week, achieving multiple likes and retweets.

“Hey @X...It’s not you...but it Is you. Our break up is overdue,” the department said accompanied by two broken heart emojis.

The post has received 37 likes, 14 retweets, and 11 comments, some positive about the decision and others negative.

The Department explained they will still be on other platforms, where they will share stories about Victorian communities.

“We’re leaving X (Twitter). It’s time to take the conversation elsewhere. We’ll still be on other platforms with news and stories about Vic communities we work with and how we help them,” the Department said.

A spokesman for the Department told The Guardian newspaper that X no longer aligns with its goals and that it would focus elsewhere, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

“We’re working to create a more inclusive Victoria. To do that work we want to speak with our community on platforms where we can reach our audiences safely and productively,” the Department said.

“We’re investing in conversation on more suitable platforms.”

The Department has a page with 6,000 followers on Facebook.

Multiple other Victorian state departments are considering a similar move, according to the publication.

Victoria’s Labor Premier Jacinta Allan, remains on X, along with Treasurer Tim Pallas and several other MPs.

A large number of Victorian government agencies, including the Department of Premier and Cabinet, also remain on the platform.

A government social media list updated March 26 shows the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, and Victoria Police have also recently joined the Chinese-owned TikTok.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for comment.

Musk Takes Aim At Australian Fact Checkers

Meanwhile, Billionaire X owner Elon Musk recently took aim at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s (RMIT) Fact Check.

Mr. Musk was responding to comments from U.S. eco-modernist Michael Shellenberger that social media platforms and the Australian public broadcaster was censoring debate about nuclear energy and renewables.

“Having government ‘fact-checkers’ is a giant leap in the direction of tyranny,” Mr. Musk posted to X on March 25.

The debate follows Australian businessman Dick Smith being “fact checked” about his views on nuclear energy. The ABC RMIT Fact Check is jointly funded by the government.

The group was disputing a claim by Australia’s Mr. Smith on 2GB radio where he said the country needed to go “nuclear now” because no country has ever been able to run “entirely on renewables.”

ABC RMIT Fact Check has since published an apology to the entrepreneur and amended the fact-check on its website.

“The ABC apologises to Mr. Smith for the error,” the national broadcaster stated.