Snippet: The Cowardice of Twitter ☇

Twitter:

There’s been a lot of discussion about political figures and world leaders on Twitter, and we want to share our stance.

Political figure. Singular.

Twitter is here to serve and help advance the global, public conversation. Elected world leaders play a critical role in that conversation because of their outsized impact on our society.

Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets, would hide important information people should be able to see and debate. It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.

Or that Twitter sees controversial tweets and blatant violations of its terms of service from a world leader’s personal account as completely fine because they keep Twitter relevant. Serving and helping to advance the global, political conversation goes out the window when another country misinterprets a tweet from the toilet as a declaration of war.

Regardless of your political views, I find the whole idea of any world leader on Twitter—and not their handlers or staffers—a bit uncomfortable. Rants and things that are rough drafts should not be out there when the entire world is watching.

But focusing on Twitter, I think the issue is that with all the controversy, their service is staying relevant. Not a day goes by that CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, print media, local media, and others give Twitter free advertising.