Amber Alerts Lost in X: When Social Media Gets in the Way of Safety
The California Highway Patrol’s Amber Alert flopped when it linked to X, formerly Twitter, leaving many users locked out without an account. With only 21% of US adults using X, this snafu had Californians fuming. “Why should a social media platform benefit from people wanting to be good citizens?” asked one disgruntled user.
Hot Take:
When it comes to emergency alerts, social media should be the hero, not the villain. Yet, it seems like X (formerly known as Twitter) has turned into the bouncer at the club, asking for your ID before letting you in on the action. Imagine getting an Amber Alert and instead of helping find the missing child, you’re stuck at the door trying to remember your login details. It’s like trying to save the day with a cape that’s locked in your closet.
Key Points:
- The California Highway Patrol sent an Amber Alert via X, but many couldn’t access it without logging in.
- X’s login requirement for viewing content creates barriers in emergency communications.
- Similar issues have been reported in Missouri with their Highway Patrol’s Amber Alert system.
- Government entities have verification badges, but not all accounts are verified, leading to accessibility issues.
- X’s changes under Elon Musk have raised concerns about its reliability for emergency communications.