The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a leading digital rights organization, has decided to leave X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. They cite the platform’s diminishing value as a source of traffic and engagement.
Who Is the EFF and Why Does This Matter?
The EFF, a nonprofit established in 1990, has long championed online privacy and free speech. Their departure from X is particularly significant. When a key digital rights advocate pulls back from a platform, it’s something to pay attention to.
This move aligns with a growing trend of news organizations, nonprofits, and media companies that have quietly — or vocally — reduced their activity on X. The reasons vary, but a common theme emerges: X just doesn’t drive traffic like it used to.
The Traffic Problem
For years, Twitter served as a dependable traffic source. A well-timed tweet could send thousands of readers to an article or campaign. However, that changed dramatically after Elon Musk took over in 2022 and rebranded it as X. Many organizations have reported a steep decline in referral traffic from X, making it harder to justify maintaining a presence there.
Consider it like a highway that used to connect your town to a major city. If that highway gets rerouted, with fewer lanes and more potholes, businesses near the old exit start to fail. That’s what’s happening to many organizations that relied on X to reach their audiences.
News publishers have been among the first to feel this shift. Several major outlets cut back or even stopped using X in 2024 and 2025. Advocacy groups, including the EFF, are following suit. If the platform isn’t helping connect with people, it makes sense to redirect that effort elsewhere.
What Changed on X
A number of decisions by X have contributed to this traffic decline. They altered their algorithm to deprioritize posts with external links, essentially burying content that directs users away. The platform also reduced its partnerships with news organizations and removed verification checkmarks from legacy accounts. This makes it tougher for users to identify credible sources quickly.
On top of that, X introduced a subscription model and began promoting its own content formats. This shift encourages users to stay on the platform instead of clicking away to external websites.
| By The Numbers: X’s Decline Among Organizations | |
|---|---|
| Year Twitter/X acquired by Elon Musk | 2022 |
| EFF founding year | 1990 |
| Reported drop in referral traffic from X for some publishers | Up to 75% since 2022 |
| Notable organizations that have left or reduced X presence | NPR, PBS, multiple EU news outlets, and now EFF |
What This Means
If you’re a regular X user, you might not notice immediate changes. However, the steady departure of credible news organizations and advocacy groups will gradually alter the platform’s character. With fewer trusted voices, the content will likely lean more toward entertainment, controversy, and paid promotions.
For those who followed organizations like the EFF for updates on digital rights, data privacy, or internet policy, you’ll need to find that information elsewhere. The EFF posts regularly on its own website and is active on other platforms, like Mastodon, which operates similarly to the old Twitter without a single corporate owner.
For advertisers and brands still using X, the loss of high-credibility organizations is a trend to watch. The platform’s appeal partly hinges on the quality of accounts surrounding your content.
Community Reaction
“The EFF leaving X feels symbolic more than anything. They’ve been defending the open internet for decades. If they’re pulling away, it says a lot about where X has ended up.”
“Honestly expected this sooner. X stopped being a place for thoughtful conversation a while ago. It makes sense that organizations focused on ideas would go where ideas can actually thrive.”
What To Watch
- Where organizations land next: Bluesky and Mastodon have both seen an influx of users following high-profile exits from X. Keep an eye on whether the EFF’s departure prompts similar moves from other advocacy and media groups in the weeks ahead.
- X’s response: Historically, the platform hasn’t changed course based on organizational departures. However, a continued trend of exits could push advertisers to reconsider and prompt a policy response from X leadership.
- Traffic data: Independent web analytics firms like Similarweb and Semrush regularly publish referral traffic reports. The upcoming data will reveal if the decline in X-sourced traffic is speeding up or stabilizing.
- EFF’s alternative channels: The organization is likely to announce its new focus for social media. Their choices might offer guidance for other nonprofits facing similar decisions.
Sources: TechCrunch: EFF is the latest organization to leave X
Maya Torres
Maya Torres is the Consumer Tech Editor at Explosion.com with 7 years covering product launches for major technology publications. She has reviewed over 300 devices across smartphones, laptops, wearables, and smart home products. Maya specializes in translating spec sheets into real-world buying advice and attends CES, MWC, and Apple keynotes as press. Her reviews focus on helping readers decide what to buy, not just what specs look good on paper.
