School shuts X account over 'racism' on platform

A Welsh secondary schoolhouse has said it is closing its relationship connected X - formerly known arsenic Twitter - implicit concerns astir racism connected the societal media platform.

The caput teacher of Ysgol Glantaf Gymraeg Glantaf successful Cardiff said a determination was made by governors to "move distant from the platform".

Matthew HT Evans besides called for different organisations specified arsenic the Welsh authorities and schoolhouse inspectors Estyn to see agelong they proceed to usage the platform.

X, which was bought for $44bn (£38.1bn) successful 2022 by the billionaire Elon Musk, has been contacted for a response.

Speaking to BBC Cymru Fyw, Mr Evans said helium was "shocked" implicit messages appearing connected the level during the summer, erstwhile rioting broke retired successful respective areas of England and Northern Ireland pursuing the execution of 3 girls successful Southport.

"During the hatred riots successful the summer, we were capable to spot young radical and children connected the streets who were drawn into the lies and racism that was going on, which was disturbing," helium said.

"You were seeing comments that made you consciousness uncomfortable astir the wide racism that was going connected that platform," helium said.

During the August riots, Mr Musk posted connected X, formerly Twitter, predicting civilian warfare successful the UK and repeatedly attacking Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

At the time, ministers said his comments were "totally unjustifiable" and "pretty deplorable".

Last month, Starmer said helium did not privation to beryllium misunderstood after the BBC reported that the tech tycoon had not been invited to the UK’s International Investment Summit due to his societal media posts during past month’s riots, and Tesla, which is besides tally by Mr Musk, would beryllium invited to invest.

The caput of Glantaf said that since the schoolhouse returned successful September, concerns had been reflected successful conversations with unit and with parents who felt uncomfortable.

However, helium said the schoolhouse has besides received "very vehement" messages astir state of code and state of information.

"As acold arsenic we were concerned, it was not a substance of state of speech. Messages of hatred and racism are different matter," helium added.

The schoolhouse was Cardiff's archetypal Welsh-medium secondary schoolhouse erstwhile it opened successful 1978, and according to its latest Estyn report, has much than 1,300 pupils.

It has decided that it volition usage present commencement utilizing the societal level Instagram, though that volition stay nether scrutiny.

"We volition reappraisal it, arsenic I'm not definite if Instagram is the close level and yet we whitethorn person to see that societal platforms are not suitable for schools to pass on," said Mr Evans.

He besides wondered if different organisations utilizing X volition travel suit.

"My feeling is you've got a ample fig of organisations that are connected this level – Estyn, Welsh government, region councils – and I deliberation there's a question for them each to however agelong they're going to proceed connected this platform?" helium said.

The Welsh authorities said it keeps the accounts it uses "under ongoing review."

"We recognise the concerns raised astir the absorption of X successful caller months, but judge it is important to proceed to prosecute with arsenic galore radical arsenic imaginable and supply clear, trusted information.”

The Welsh Local Government Association, which represents councils, declined to comment.

Estyn said it continued to reappraisal its societal media channels and "monitor our engagement connected X” arsenic portion of that.