Oxfordshire County Council withdraws from X
Oxfordshire County Council is joining other councils, including district councils in Oxfordshire, in being deeply concerned about the rise in online hate speech and abuse targeting women and girls on the social media channel X.
We welcome Ofcom’s decision to investigate the platform under the Online Safety Act. Safeguarding residents and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the county council’s responsibilities, and these principles extend to how and where we communicate online.
The council regularly reviews its use of social media to ensure our channels remain effective and accessible for residents. In recent months, we have seen that X has become less effective as an engagement channel and has contributed to a less safe online environment for local communities.
As a result, we have reduced our activity on X and focused on sharing council news and information through other social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram as well as newer channels such as WhatsApp.
Following a recent internal review of our social media channels, we can confirm that we will be withdrawing from the X platform.
Public bodies have a responsibility to stand up against hate and abuse, particularly when it targets women and girls. Social media can be a powerful tool for engagement, but only when it is properly regulated and moderated.
Where platforms fail to provide a safe and respectful space for communities, we must make clear and principled choices about how we communicate.
We will continue to use our other social media channels and our website to keep people informed and engaged.