Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and journalist Don Lemon have joined the ranks of those leaving X, formerly known as Twitter. The two came out with the announcement at a time when some large-scale changes were going on in the leadership and on the platform—a development that has fired conversations about the evolving world of social media and how it relates to celebrities.
Jamie Lee Curtis’s Exit: A Personal Reflection
From “Freaky Friday” to “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Jamie Lee Curtis has been the trending topic on social media. Many a time she has used her social media pages to promote anything from being kind to supporting certain causes. On November 13, 2024, Curtis went back to Instagram with a captured message through screenshot that was in a position to affirm that her X account was deactivated. She captioned it with the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
While Curtis did not say explicitly, her reasons for leaving X coincide with a wider trend among public figures re-evaluating their use of the platform. This has been underpinned by concerns over its policy regarding content moderation and the amplification of voices in the public sphere.
Don Lemon’s Departure: A Stand Against Policy Changes
Don Lemon, a CNN anchor who has been known for his candid comments, did the same on November 13, 2024. In a video message to his 1.5 million followers, Lemon expressed disappointment in changes within the platform’s terms of service that will go into effect on November 15, 2024. The new policy requires that all legal disputes be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, viewed as a more friendly ground for conservative causes.
CNN news anchor Don Lemon, who has not been seen hiding his opinions, was at it on November 13, 2024. Lemon posted a video message to his 1.5 million subscribers, stating that he was unsatisfied with the amendments to the terms of service regarding the platform that will be active by November 15, 2024. The new policy mandates that every legal complaint be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas which many consider ‘favored territory’ for right-wing measures.
He claimed this would have a chilling effect on free speech and reduce accountability. “I once believed that it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech,” he said. “But now I feel it does not serve that purpose.” He further called the site a place now twisted into being a “toxic place to push political propaganda.”
The Broader Context: Elon Musk’s Influence and Policy Shifts
These changes, also in light of exits by Curtis and Lemon, place changes in big turnovers within X, especially since Elon Musk acquired the platform way back in 2022. Musk’s helm at the company has been marked by a series of policy changes in a bid to redefine the platform’s role in public discourse.
Another highly controversial change is the change in terms of service, requiring all legal disputes to go through Texas courts. Critics said this would make it more difficult for users to hold the platform accountable since this would most likely favor conservative viewpoints and suppress the voices of dissent.
More recently, Musk’s addition to the Cabinet of President-elect Donald Trump has heightened interest in how much control he may be exerting over X. This appointment immediately raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and which direction the platform would take under his leadership.
The Exodus of Public Figures and Organizations
Curtis and Lemon join a growing number of celebrities, journalists, and organizations that have revisited their stance on X or left the platform altogether. The Guardian newspaper in the UK said it would no longer be active on X, as its statement read, “due to the platform’s promotion of disturbing content, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”.
This trend reflects the growing unease of public figures and institutions over the role of the platform in amplifying harmful content and its influence on public discourse. The decisions to leave X speak to a wider reassessment of the way in which social media platforms are utilized and the responsibilities they bear vis-à-vis shaping societal conversations.
Implications for Social Media Use
The departures of high-profile people like Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon from X underpin an ever-changing nature of the relationship between high-profile personas and social media. Both decisions bring to light the need for harmony between one’s personal values and the platforms with which they are aligning.
Curtis hopes her exit shows a focus on platforms that promote positivity and kindness, something aligned with her advocacy work. Lemon argues his exit is a protest against policy changes he sees taking a toll on free speech and open debate.
Maybe this will encourage others to rethink their presence on social media in relation to their values and what the consequences of such policies might portend for public discourse.
Looking Ahead: The Future of X and Social Media Platforms
The spate of recent exits from X forces fundamental questions about the future of social media platforms and their role in society. Public figures and organizations reassessing their engagement places platforms like X under increased pressure to mitigate concerns related to content moderation, free speech, and user trust.
The changing landscape may indeed shift people to more transparent and accountable platforms that promote healthy discourse. For individual users, the developments are an opportunity to reflect on their personal social media use and the platforms they support.
As underscored by the cases of Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon leaving X, complex dynamics arise when public figures and social media platforms come into play. Their departures are bound to raise broader issues about the policies of these platforms, content moderation, and what it means for public discourse. These changes, as the digital space keeps changing, meanwhile remind us of how our personal values need to be in tune with what and whom we engage online and make sure there is a continued discussion about the place of social media in our society.
