DELETE your Twitter Account.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow," wrote Shakespeare, but when it comes to Twitter—now rebranded as X—the sorrow is more bitter than sweet. It's time to consider whether the platform that once promised open dialogue and community has strayed too far from its original mission, becoming a cacophony of disinformation, harassment, and chaos.

When Elon Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in October 2022, the world watched with bated breath. Musk, a self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist," promised sweeping changes. "The bird is freed," he tweeted triumphantly. Yet, for many users, the newfound freedom felt more like an unshackling of Pandora's box.

Under Musk's stewardship, Twitter has undergone seismic shifts. Content moderation policies were relaxed, previously banned accounts were reinstated, accounts challenging Musk and the rightwing takeover were banned, and the verification system was overhauled to prioritize paid subscriptions over authenticity. The result? A platform where misinformation spreads like wildfire, and the line between credible sources and imposters blurs dangerously.

For journalists, activists, and everyday users, Twitter was once a vital tool—a digital town square where voices from around the globe could converge. But the atmosphere has changed. Harassment campaigns have intensified, targeting marginalized communities with little recourse. The platform's algorithms, designed to maximize engagement, often amplify the most divisive and sensational content.

Consider the exodus of advertisers concerned about brand safety, or the departure of key executives responsible for trust and safety. These are not merely growing pains; they are symptomatic of a platform in decline.

Alternative spaces are emerging. Mastodon, Bluesky, and even Instagram's Threads offer refuge for those seeking genuine connection without the toxicity. These platforms may lack Twitter's scale, but they benefit from communities committed to respectful discourse.

The decision to delete one's Twitter account is personal, but it's also a statement. It's a rejection of a platform that profits from division and outrage. It's an affirmation that we deserve better from our digital public squares.

As we navigate the complexities of the online world, perhaps it's time to heed the wisdom of poet Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" For many of us, the answer may be to step away from the noise, to reclaim our time and mental well-being, and to find or create spaces that reflect our values.

Twitter was once a place of possibility—a place where revolutions were organized, where movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter gained momentum. But as the platform morphs into something unrecognizable, clinging to nostalgia serves no one.

So, it's time to do it for real. DELETE your fucking Twitter account. I'm waiting for my archive to be available for download, then I'm out. After all, endings are necessary for new beginnings.