Stephen King, the acclaimed author behind The Shining and Shawshank Redemption, has made it clear that he is stepping away from X (formerly Twitter), calling the platform “too toxic” for his taste. On Thursday, King posted his decision on the site, encouraging his followers to join him on Threads, a competitor developed by Meta.
“I’m leaving Twitter. Tried to stay, but the atmosphere has just become too toxic,” King wrote, adding a simple invitation: “Follow me on Threads, if you like.” With this post, King made his exit official, signaling a growing shift towards other social media platforms.
A Rising Tide of Departures from X
King’s decision comes amid a broader exodus of notable figures and organizations distancing themselves from X due to concerns over its content and overall environment. The Guardian, for instance, announced this week that it would no longer post on the platform, citing disturbing content and a shift in the platform’s tone.
Other high-profile exits include German football club St. Pauli, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, journalist Don Lemon, and Spain’s *La Vanguardia* newspaper. Each of these organizations and individuals voiced frustrations over X’s increasingly toxic atmosphere, marked by misinformation and a lack of meaningful conversation.
St. Pauli, the Bundesliga club, described X as a “hate machine,” while *La Vanguardia* warned that it had become an “echo chamber” for disinformation and conspiracy theories. In her departure, Curtis posted a reflective quote on Instagram, and Lemon voiced concerns about the platform no longer supporting honest discussion and free speech.
King’s Long-Standing Criticism of Elon Musk
King’s move to leave X isn’t a surprise for those familiar with his history of clashes with the platform’s owner, Elon Musk. Since Musk took over Twitter in a $44 billion deal in 2022, King has been outspoken about his displeasure with Musk’s management.
One of the first notable moments came when Musk proposed charging users $20 a month for a blue verification check. King was quick to express his disapproval, writing, “$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”
King also criticized Musk during the 2024 U.S. presidential race. When Musk claimed that Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris wanted to “break the constitution,” King fired back, calling the assertion “ridiculous. As usual.”
Earlier this week, King addressed rumors that Musk had removed him from the platform, dismissing claims that he had called Musk “Trump’s new first lady.” Musk responded with a playful “Hi Steve!” from his own account, but the exchange highlighted the ongoing tension between the two.
Threads and Bluesky Gain Traction
King’s exit comes as alternative platforms like Threads and Bluesky are seeing an uptick in users, particularly those frustrated by X’s evolving dynamics. Meta’s Threads has already amassed 275 million active users, while Bluesky recorded a surge of over 700,000 new sign-ups within just a few days, topping the App Store charts.
King’s presence on Threads is expected to bring even more attention to the platform, especially from his 7 million followers on X. His early posts on Threads already reflect his political views, with one message criticizing Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, referring to them as a “Klown Kar” that’s “getting full.”
These growing platforms present a compelling alternative for those seeking a more positive and community-driven online environment, with a focus on healthy conversation rather than heated arguments and disinformation.
