Werder follow St. Pauli in leaving X

After FC St. Pauli, Werder Bremen have become the second Bundesliga club to leave X.

Werder Bremen will no longer be communicating via the social media platform X. 

Club CEO Klaus Filbry announced the decision at the club’s annual general meeting on Monday. 

In explaining the decision, Werder bemoaned the effect multibillionaire Elon Musk has had on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, since acquiring it. 

“Since Elon Musk took over the platform, hate speech, hatred towards minorities, right-wing extremist posts and conspiracy theories have been allowed to spread at an incredible pace, all under the guise of freedom of speech. The radicalisation of the platform is being actively driven by Elon Musk and his personal posts, which include transphobic and antisemitic comments, as well as the spreading of conspiracy narrative,” said Werder Bremen, the second Bundesliga club to leave X after FC St. Pauli, in a statement. 

“Next to nothing is currently being monitored on the platform. The algorithms and decision making at X are entirely non-transparent processes. Additionally, Elon Musk is utilising the social network as a political weapon, as seen recently during the course of the US election.

“SV Werder Bremen are taking a clear stance against hatred, hate speech, discrimination and exclusion. The Green-Whites are proud to stand for diversity, freedom and democracy, as well as for cohesion and solidarity in society. With the recent radicalisation of the platform, a line has been crossed for the club.”

Like FC St. Pauli, Werder Bremen will be using BlueSky to communicate going forward.