Thanks to social media, politicians now have a more convenient and direct way of addressing their constituents, versus in the past where they had to hold rallies, events, or read from television prompters, which can sometimes feel a bit impersonal. However as with all social media, sometimes it can be abused, leading to some to question whether or not Twitter plans to, or will, handle such cases.Twitter has since responded on its blog with regards to world leaders using its platform, in which basically they state that blocking/banner a world leader on Twitter would not be beneficial to users. “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.”
However this doesn’t mean that Twitter is giving world leaders with controversial thoughts and opinions a free pass, but rather as long as they are within Twitter’s rules, then they are free to continue using its platform. “We review Tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce our rules accordingly. No one person’s account drives Twitter’s growth, or influences these decisions. We work hard to remain unbiased with the public interest in mind.”
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