Public safety accounts urge caution on Twitter amid changes

CBS/AP ^ | November 19, 2022 | CBS/AP

[John W]

As Twitter became knotted with parody accounts and turmoil, Rachel Terlep, who runs an account for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources that intersperses cheeky banter with wildfire and weather warnings, watched with equal parts trepidation and fascination.

"It kind of feels like a supernova moment right now — a big, bright flash before it all goes away," she said.

So the department stepped into the fray, taking advantage of the moment with some of its signature humor. "Update: The Twitter wildfire is 44 billion acres and 0% contained," they posted.

But under the joke, it linked to a thread that gave helpful tips about how to review a handle to see if it's real. Some of the suggestions included looking at how old the account is and checking to see if the public safety agency's website links to the profile.

It underscored the challenge for the people tasked with getting public safety information out to communities. Now, they don't only have to get information out quickly. On the new Twitter, they also have to convince people they are actually the authorities.

Amid the slew of changes at one of the world's most influential social media platforms, the public information officers who operate government Twitter accounts are cautiously waiting out the turmoil and urging the public to verify that it really is their accounts appearing on timelines. While it's an issue they've always had to contend with, it's especially worrisome now as a proliferation of brand impersonations spreads across the platform and changes to verification take hold.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Oh noes! Parody accounts! The Bee is being attacked. I wonder if so much ink would be spilled if The Onion ever had something worth saying on Twitter?

[Col Frank Slade]

So the parody account is designed to help people identify real vs fake accounts?

Lunacy.

[calljack]

Why do people act as if Twitter is important?

[calljack]

Why do people act as if Twitter is important?

[kiryandil]

Get Rachel a fainting couch, BUT PRONTO!!

[LeoTDB69]

It’s just phishing attacks moving from email to Twitter LOL

[justrepublican]

Why is the Washington State Department of Natural Resources on twitter?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Why do people act as if Twitter is important?

What is important to them is stopping any criticism of the collectivist agenda. Any site allowing it must be kept away from the virgin eyes of voters. :)

[dayglored]

As a non-Twit, my suggestion to Twits who are all atwitter would be to post one Tweet saying you are foregoing further activity on the site for some period of time (e.g. two weeks) to let it calm down.

Then put down the mouse and back away from the keyboard.

[tomkat]

Then put down the mouse and back away from the keyboard.

Doing that would deprive many many of 'em from having any 'life' at all.

[cuban leaf]

Pay the $8 and you’ll be fine. 🤣

[Conservat1]

Scott Galloway just said on Face the Nation that Elon Musk poll that “the people have dpoken” to reinstate Trump, was actually “ the GRU spoke, not the people...” he blamed the poll responders on supposed “Russian” tweeters...

Russia/Russia/Russia