L21 Editorial Team

It has been just over two months since Latinoamérica21 decided to suspend content publication on X (formerly Twitter). We did so convinced that this platform no longer guarantees the standards of reliability, truthfulness, and freedom of expression that we consider essential to our mission.

Since Musk’s acquisition, X has changed radically. The reinstatement of accounts sanctioned for spreading false news, the removal of verification mechanisms, and the weakening of content moderation have turned this network into a hostile environment for rigorous journalism.

But what seemed like an isolated phenomenon just months ago is now a pattern extending to other platforms, consolidating a digital ecosystem that increasingly prioritizes virality over truth, confrontation over dialogue, and impunity over responsibility.

Meta has announced that it will relax its moderation filters on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, removing fact-checkers and allowing posts that would have previously been classified as disinformation or hate speech.

With Trump back in power, the digital landscape is becoming even more complex. Musk has already expressed his intention to “work with President Trump to combat censorship” and has turned X into a platform where the ultraconservative and even anti-democratic narrative is gaining ground without restrictions. The risk that these platforms will be used in the coming months to erode trust in democratic institutions, amplify conspiracy theories, and manipulate public debate is becoming increasingly evident.

In this context, our decision to leave X not only stands but makes more sense than ever. We understand that abandoning a platform with massive reach is no minor decision. It means giving up a potential audience, rethinking our dissemination strategies, and adapting to new spaces. But we cannot defend democracy in an environment that undermines it. We cannot promote critical thinking on platforms where truth is drowned out by noise and manipulation.

At Latinoamérica21, we remain committed to serious, plural, and well-founded journalism. We continue to believe that rigorous information and critical analysis should not be held hostage by algorithms designed to maximize outrage and polarization. We still think it’s not just about where we publish, but about the values we uphold in doing so.

Our commitment remains unwavering: democracy and independent journalism cannot be built on ground polluted by noise and manipulation. That is why, today more than ever, we reaffirm our decision. We will continue reporting and analyzing with rigor, seeking spaces that ensure the quality of public debate. We will remain in spaces where meaningful discussion is possible without falling into manipulation and where journalistic integrity remains a priority, not an exception.

And we will remain vigilant: if we detect that other platforms also yield to disinformation, impunity, and the erosion of democratic values, we will take the necessary measures to defend what we believe in and what we work for.