If you ever find yourself daydreaming that Twitter will finally enforce their rules and spray a little cold water on the raging dumpster fire that is Donald Trump’s Twitter account, given Trump’s addiction to using Twitter to belittle his critics, post racist videos, harangue the press, and have a button-measuring contest with an similarly unstable autocrat while threatening another country with nuclear annihilation, don’t hold your breath while waiting for the ban hammer to drop.  A statement posted by the company to Twitter’s blog today implied that as long as a person is a “world leader,” pretty much anything he or she wants to say on the social media site is A-OK, even if it violates the rules set forth for everyone else. Trump, according to Twitter, plays “a critical role” in advancing “the global, public conversation.”

Twitter’s stated rules threaten to limit the account of or ban any Twitter user who uses language that “crosses the line” into abuse, harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence or physical harm against an individual or group. Twitter’s rules on hateful conduct say a user “may not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”

Advertisement

The statement:

World Leaders on Twitter

There’s been a lot of discussion about political figures and world leaders on Twitter, and we want to share our stance.

Twitter is here to serve and help advance the global, public conversation. Elected world leaders play a critical role in that conversation because of their outsized impact on our society.

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.

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.

We are working to make Twitter the best place to see and freely discuss everything that matters. We believe that’s the best way to help our society make progress.

Advertisement

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 50 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article The Asa and Jan Edition Next article Donald Trump wishes America good morning