The White House doesn't want to waste all its time blocking racist tweets

[yallerdawg]

By Adi Robertson on May 21, 2015
http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/21/8638315/white-house-potus-twitter-account-abuse

Anonymity has its benefits!

Three days ago, President Barack Obama got an official Presidential Twitter account. In keeping with hallowed internet tradition, a small Twitter welcoming committee celebrated his arrival with the customary recitation of racial epithets and death threats. But the law can be slow to catch up with web culture, and some people suggested that the Secret Service might actually take these tweeted threats as, well, threats.

In a press conference today, White House press secretary Josh Earnest wouldn't answer a question about whether the Secret Service is investigating any Twitter threats. But he did express a little bit of weary resignation at the more vulgar tweets. "Those kinds of images and that kind of language is all too common on the internet," he said. "I'm sure some of you guys see that on your Twitter feeds as well."

Yes, the President of the United States might have an entire division of highly trained agents dedicated to protecting his life, and one of the world's most competent social media teams. But on the internet, chaos reigns — for good, for ill. No mass of mere meat-power can hold the barricades. Maybe the next press conference will give us an official White House position on block lists.