Over 50 Subreddits Ban X Links in Protest of Musk’s Alleged Nazi Salute
Reddit Communities Join Forces Against CEO’s Actions Amid Growing Controversy
A growing wave of protest is sweeping through Reddit after Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), faced criticism for a gesture during a rally that many perceived as a Nazi salute. In response, more than 50 subreddit communities have announced they will no longer allow links to X in new posts or comments, with the total reach of these communities surpassing 40 million members.
The controversy erupted following Musk’s appearance at a rally after President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. During his speech, Musk made a hand gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute, a claim he has dismissed as "pure propaganda" and “dirty tricks.” Despite Musk’s defense, several subreddit moderators have used the incident to justify their decision to ban X links, condemning the gesture as offensive and inexcusable.
The subreddit for Destiny 2, a popular online game with over 900,000 members, posted a message that directly referenced Musk's rally appearance, stating, "We do not tolerate Nazis. Anyone spouting Nazi ideology or hateful speech will always be permanently banned on sight." This sentiment was echoed by several other communities, citing the rising political tensions on X and the platform's unmoderated hate speech.
One major concern voiced by many subreddit moderators was Musk's endorsement of far-right political figures and his platform’s controversial content policies. Some communities also highlighted the fact that X’s posts are no longer visible without an account, although sharing screenshots of X content remains allowed.
This ban of X links represents more than just a symbolic gesture, according to some moderators, who explained that they hope the move will encourage members and influential figures in their communities to distance themselves from the platform entirely. The subreddit for Formula 1 with 4.8 million members, for instance, temporarily banned X links but acknowledged that some major figures in the sport still rely on the platform. They expressed the hope that the ban would help shift the focus to other alternatives like Bluesky, which has been gaining traction as a competitor to X.
Other subreddits, while acknowledging that X links were rarely posted, argued that the action was a necessary form of protest. A moderator for the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, which has over 180,000 members, stated, "If somebody starts popping off Nazi salutes at the presidential inauguration... then virtue signaling is the least I can do."
Reddit itself clarified that it has not imposed any official ban on X links, with users still freely posting content from the platform across the site. A Reddit spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to freedom of speech and association, stressing that the decisions being made were specific to individual subreddit communities and their volunteer moderators.
The subreddits participating in the protest are diverse in nature, with banned links affecting communities centered on U.S. cities and states, international locations, as well as music, video games, sports teams, and even adult content groups. One of the largest subreddits to implement the ban is the NBA subreddit, which has 15 million members. In their announcement, moderators also included a ban on links to other platforms requiring users to log in to view posts, such as Meta’s Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.
“We do not believe taking a stance against Nazi symbolism is or should be a political issue,” the NBA subreddit moderators stated. “Hate speech and the promotion of it has never been tolerated in our community.” The post also mentioned that links to X would be banned in addition to screenshots of X posts, in a move aimed at pushing users and content creators toward alternative platforms like Bluesky.
The Reddit protest against X and Musk’s actions reflects a growing division among online communities and an increasing willingness to challenge the content and leadership that has shaped the social media landscape in recent years.