Twitter Has More Work to Do

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Twitter CEO Dick Costolo's promise to "take full responsibility" for hate and bullying on the site doesn't seem to be working. President Obama's @POTUS Twitter account received terrible threats and insults within just a few minutes of his first post. 

POTUS

In February, Costolo posted an internal message to employees, which included the following: 

"We're going to start kicking these people off right and left, and making sure that when they issue their ridiculous attacks, nobody hears them."

Unfortunately, the company fell far short this week. The President's new Twitter account, which garnered 2.3 million followers in four days, received 500 "f-bombs" on the first day, according to The Washington Post. The Post also warned that tweets to @POTUS are archived forever. Maybe someday, users will regret posting despicable images of the President with a noose around his neck, for example.  

Discussion Starters: 

  • Why do you think the President chose to start a Twitter account now, six years into office? 
  • Was this the right decision? Consider the benefits of having an account, the obvious downsides of the backlash, and perhaps less obvious issues. 
  • Some hateful tweets are promoted on Twitter. Should the company do more? Like what?