X Marks a Tough Spot for State and Local Government

Significant changes at X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, are forcing public agencies to adapt, revert to communications channels they control, or contemplate leaving it all together. The changes have caused public agencies to rethink what they need to do to effectively disseminate emergency and critical information while safeguarding their own credibility as even the validation seal program on the platform gets turned on its head. SHOW NOTES Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode: Overview: The episode discusses significant changes on Twitter (rebranded as "X") affecting public agencies. Unexpected Alterations: X temporarily removed public post viewing without an account, impacting dissemination of emergency information in a crisis. Community Engagement: Agencies, like the Washington and Arizona departments of transportation, used Twitter for over a decade for effective community connection. Increased Negative Feedback: Rising negativity on X is causing state and local government users to consider leaving the platform. Verification Process Concerns: Modifications to the verification process, including the paid feature, X Premium, has caused confusion and concerns about credibility among government agencies. Preferred Verification: Government entities prefer the gray checkmark, denoting verified status, to enhance credibility. Anticipated Future Changes: Additional changes on X include the potential removal of the block feature and altered news article display. Potential Future Monetization: Discussions indicate that X may not remain free, leading to uncertainty among current users. No Immediate Alternatives: With nontransferable follower bases, agencies find it challenging to transition to alternative platforms, despite X's changes. Conclusion: Public agencies are cautiously navigating X's continuous changes, weighing their platform options while considering credibility, public service and platform utility concerns.   Related Links to stories referenced in the episode: Social Media Changes Are Impacting Government Messaging Government Begins to Ask: When Do We Leave Twitter? Stream the show from www.tfic.tech or subscribe to the show on the podcast app of your choice -  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy or Audible. Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes.