I thought I did… but I was wrong.
If you are following @BarackObama you are not following the man who is the 44th President of the United States of America, but instead an organization run by the Democratic National Committee.
I blame Twitter for the confusion. They have verified an account run by Organizing for America (the DNC group behind @BarackObama) even though the account’s name and bio do not mention the organization. The bio has plenty of characters left to revise this oversight, may I suggest: “44th President of the United States - This account is currently being run by Organizing for America and the Democratic National Committee.”
According to Twitter’s Verified Account (BETA) page the big reason for verifying an account is:
To prevent identity confusion, Twitter is experimenting (beta testing) with a ‘Verified Account’ feature. We’re working to establish authenticity with people who deal with impersonation or identity confusion on a regular basis.
I feel that Twitter should ask the organization to update their bio with less misleading information, or simply remove the verified account status. To me, it seems that identity confusion is made even more confusing when Verified Accounts come into question.
Am I alone in this view, or just the only one stupid enough to bring it to light during tax season?
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UPDATE: Turns out the info is all there, just cleverly hidden in the background image. Full of FAIL for mobile devices, small browser windows and screen readers.
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Please note: I’m registered as an Independent, I watch neither Fox News nor MSNBC, I’d much rather watch LOST and Modern Family (two of the best shows on television). As an American, I honor the office, but not always the man sitting behind the desk. By following @BarackObama I thought I was declaring my support for America, not for an organization with political views that may differ from my own. I hope Organizing for America understands my concern and chooses to update their bio.
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Let’s hope @BarackObama doesn’t respond with “Well, that’s why we have our profile image as the campaign logo, not Barack’s face! How could that possibly be misleading?” Right.
Modern Family is awesome by the way. Just started watching it on Hulu two weeks ago.
Re: Modern Family – Many of the cast are on twitter!
http://utodd.com/2010/01/24/dear-internet-thanks-for-being-cool-again/
But only @SofiaVergara has a verified account. So how do we know those other actors are really who they say they are? Oh. Wait. Never mind. Just read that part of your post about @BarackObama.
#FAIL on the linkage on that previous post.
The fact these “influential people” on Twitter use Ghost tweeters (or sometimes accredited guest tweeters) is beyond me. It’s just broadcast marketing if they’ve not initiated or taken part in conversations with others.
I suppose I could explain that no one using social media is being true, that we all use some form of masks or altered self-representations, whether that be adding things that don’t exist or withholding things that do, so Obama’s misrepresentation through tweeting ghost-writers is only one point on the downward curve of deception, but then again, I’m with you, it would be really cool to see the president of the United States jump on to bitch about Biden saying Fuck during my big moment and Rush being one to talk with that bloated belly just waiting for our healthcare emergency rooms to bail him out and that type of thing, so Obama lighten up man and let it all out. Just keep it within 140 characters.
At least my untruths are my own.
I realize that no President goes before the crowd and hits the podium without a rehearsed speech. A speech written by others, massaged by others, corrupted by others.
The problem I have, Ben, is that twitter has given a “verified” account to an organization of many which is claiming to be one man (one very powerful man). When I read @barackobama’s tweets, the voice in my head is his voice. I believe he is speaking, in fact, the tweets that the organization is putting out are written to sound as if though they are coming directly from the President himself:
Example 1: “I need you to help us finish the fight on health reform. Pick up the phone and make your voice heard in Washington.”
Example 2: “Help me show that Americans are ready to join the fight for the middle class—add your name to a letter to Congress”
Example 3: “From my family to yours — Happy Thanksgiving.”
THIS IS BULLSHIT. The MAN didn’t say any of this. The organization types/creates the message. I find it scary that someone who is NOT the President of the United States can send a tweet out to the world as if he/she was the voice of our nation.
At the very least, they should update the bio to be more truthful. A hidden background image giving the details is way too full of FAIL.
sidenote: Thanks for using “fuck” in your comment! One of my favorite words. EVER.
These are good points.
Ghostwriting is a nasty business. I partook in it once early in my career, writing a book chapter and a few magazine articles for a marketing guru, and while in some ways it was good training I still regret it. Unfortunately the higher up the food chain leaders go, the more likely they are to have teams of writers scripting what they say. Obama’s teleprompters give the same nuance.
What I hear from you, and agree, is that Twitter “verified” should be an authentic voice. The White House was probably in a bind because if they didn’t verify the account, no one would know if Obama was really written by a 23-year-old college student having some fun.
Veracity is hard to come by today. Fuck yeah.