Christian leaders said they might abandon Twitter this week after the Elon Musk company said it would allow pornography on its platform for the first time. Musk’s company recently policy It clarified that it allows “consensually produced and distributed adult nudity” and “sexual conduct,” and allows “full or partial nudity” and “explicit or implied sexual conduct.” Additionally, the new policy also allows AI-generated pornography.
The policy claims to limit exposure to “adult content aimed at children and unwilling adult users,” but such a policy is not easy to enforce. Since Musk bought the company, X has seen a surge in pornographic-themed spam. 2022 study We found that the majority of Twitter Blue subscribers promote either politics, cryptocurrency, or pornography.
Competitors like Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube all ban pornography.
Southern Baptist Convention President Bert Barber said X’s stance on pornography is one of the reasons he is soon stepping away from it. He said he would continue to tweet through the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual convention, which runs until June 12.
I intend to remain on X until the end of the SBC Annual Meeting, but due to the recent announcements regarding pornography and the need to live a quieter life, at least for a while, I will be stepping away from the platform starting June 12th.
— Bart Barber (@bartbarber) June 4, 2024
Beth Moore, an author and speaker, said she is reconsidering her use of X.
“This changes things dramatically,” Moore wrote. “I never wanted to leave this site because of the community we’ve built. The conversations. The insights. The laughter. The silliness. The praying for one another. The celebration of victories and mourning of losses. What do we do?”
Okay, guys. This changes things dramatically. I never wanted to leave this site because of the community we’ve built. Conversation. Insight. Laughter. Humor. Praying for one another. Celebrating our victories and mourning our losses. What do we do?https://t.co/ZybEORH12p
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) June 4, 2024
Moore noted that many Christians who use X personally struggle with pornography.
“So is it irresponsible for us to stay here?” she asked. “For example, if I were a recovering alcoholic, I would really hope that my friends would think about places to meet other than bars, you know what I mean? On the other hand, does this problem end up happening no matter where we go? Are there settings here that we can change?”
Canadian pro-life activist Katie Summers wrote, “I’m really pissed that I defended Elon Musk’s acquisition of X, and in return he turned X into a porn site.”
It pisses me off that I defended Elon Musk’s acquisition of X, and in return he turned X into a porn site.
— Katie Summers (@theladykatie) June 4, 2024
Author and writer Rachel Joy Welcher also said she was considering leaving.
“@elonmusk,” Welcher wrote, “I know I’m a small fry, but I want you to know that if you don’t curb your porn, I, and many other Christians who have been on Twitter for years, will be leaving Twitter.”
Bluecheck, are there more controls in place to filter pornographic replies, GIFs, etc? Elon MuskI know I’m a small-minded person, but please know that if we don’t curb pornography, I and many other Christians who have been on Twitter for years will be leaving the platform.
— Rachel Joy Welcher (@racheljwelcher) June 3, 2024
Herschel York, dean of theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, said he was stepping down from teaching.
“Is there a spring that has both fresh and salt water flowing from the same hole?” James 3:11“My friends, I cannot in good conscience remain in X.” York I have written“I tried to use it to make amends, but now it’s too much.”
“Does a spring produce both fresh and salt water from the same hole?”James 3:11Hey guys, I can’t stay on X any longer without feeling guilty. I’ve tried to use it to make amends, but I’ve had enough. I’m deleting my account today. https://t.co/j1kanuBChf
— Hershael York (@hershaelyork) June 4, 2024
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Dan Kitwood / Staff
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
