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X Is Dying In Europe: Here’s Why
I asked X about its massive losses in Europe.
“@grok, can you explain the massive drop in interactions in Europe with X?”
This is what Grok had to say and updated for today.
The significant decline in user interactions on X in Europe during 2025 can be attributed to several interconnected factors. The decline is primarily driven by changes in user sentiment. Additionally, platform policies and regulatory pressures play a role.
What follows is a detailed breakdown based on available information.
Decline in User Base
X has experienced a notable reduction in its European user base.
The platform lost approximately 11 million users in Europe from August 2024 to March 2025. Reports indicate a drop in monthly active users from around 105.99 million to 94.83 million, a 10.5% decline.
Logged-in users also decreased from 67 million to just over 61 million in the same period. This reduction in active users naturally leads to fewer interactions, as fewer people are engaging with the content. Major exoduses were reported in France (2.7 million), Poland (1.8 million), and Germany (1.3 million), with smaller countries like Lithuania and Luxembourg losing a quarter of their users.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/x_accounts_europe_drop/
https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-x-europe-social-media-twitter-takes-hit/
Concerns Over Content Moderation
Since Elon Musk acquired X in 2022, there have been widespread concerns about a perceived decline in content moderation. This decline has led to increased misinformation and hate speech. This has alienated some European users who prefer platforms with stricter moderation policies, such as Bluesky. X’s reduction in moderation staff—from 2,294 in November 2023 to 1,275 by October 2024—has exacerbated these concerns. The platform relies heavily on Community Notes. Community Notes struggles to address contentious issues due to its requirement for cross-political consensus.
For several languages (e.g., Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek), X has only one moderator, which limits its ability to effectively manage content, further driving users away and reducing interactions.
Regulatory Pressures and Privacy Concerns
The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) has imposed stricter requirements on platforms like X. These requirements aim to combat illegal content and disinformation. X’s compliance efforts, such as age checks and data privacy updates, have sparked backlash. Some users find these changes intrusive. Posts on X show their frustration over being asked to provide personal data. Others are upset about the need to pay for VPNs to maintain access.
A user in France criticized X’s new data policies. They described them as a “fallacious update.” The user threatened to quit the platform. The European Federation of Journalists represents over 300,000 journalists. They announced their departure from X in August 2025. They cited regulatory and content concerns. These factors have led to reduced trust and engagement, contributing to fewer interactions.
Elon Musk’s Public Image and Political Stances
Musk’s outspoken support for right-wing political movements and figures has not resonated well with many European users. He supports groups such as the German AfD party and the Trump administration. They often lean toward more progressive or moderate values.
His perceived alignment with controversial figures and the reinstatement of previously banned accounts (e.g., Steve Bannon) have fueled perceptions of X as a platform that amplifies divisive content, prompting some users to disengage or leave entirely.
This sentiment is evident in posts criticising Musk as an “evil capitalist.” High-profile accounts, like the city of Paris and The Guardian, are also abandoning the platform.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/x_accounts_europe_drop/
https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-x-europe-social-media-twitter-takes-hit/
Competition from Alternative Platforms
The rise of competing platforms, such as Threads and Bluesky, has drawn users away from X. These platforms are perceived as offering better moderation and less toxicity, appealing to users who are disillusioned with X’s direction. This migration reduces the pool of active users on X, directly impacting interaction rates.
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formally-twitter-continues-to-lose-users-eu/731536/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/x_accounts_europe_drop/
Broader Contextual Factors
Broader geopolitical and economic challenges in Europe may affect user engagement indirectly. Issues such as stagnant growth and energy crises contribute to this impact. Shifting priorities toward defence and migration also play a role. These challenges are not directly tied to interactions. People may be spending less time on social media due to economic pressures. They might also be dissatisfied with X’s content. This could further contribute to the drop in interactions.
https://www.cgdev.org/blog/eu-2025-balancing-global-ambitions-and-domestic-pressures
Conclusion
The massive drop in interactions on X in Europe in 2025 is a result of a combination of factors. These factors include a shrinking user base and dissatisfaction with content moderation. There are also regulatory pressures from the EU’s DSA. Musk’s polarising public image contributes as well. Additionally, there is competition from alternative platforms.
These factors have created a feedback loop. Declining trust and user exodus result in fewer posts, likes, and shares.
X is not experiencing a total collapse yet. However, the 6–10% user loss since August 2023 signals a significant challenge for the platform’s engagement in the region (Europe).
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formally-twitter-continues-to-lose-users-eu/731536/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/x_accounts_europe_drop/
https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-x-europe-social-media-twitter-takes-hit/
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GOOD STRATEGY 
Twitter is not losing users. Our connections get manipulated so our accounts get violation reports and get banned.
Same happens for many trading platforms too, our phones literally differ what we can and can not do compared to other countries.
Even services we used for years are banned “for safety”.
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