With X’s Musk under fire, White House launches Threads account for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris – Times of India
On Monday, the White House announced its new presence on the social media platform Threads, a competitor to Elon Musk’s X platform, developed by Meta. This development, which had been in the works for several weeks, follows shortly after public criticism of Musk by the White House and others for promoting and endorsing an anti-Semitic post.
In a related context, major corporations such as Comcast, The Walt Disney Co, and Warner Bros Discovery have recently decided to halt their advertising on X, previously known as Twitter.
This announcement coincides with X’s legal action against the media watchdog group Media Matters. X has accused Media Matters of defamation, following a report that claimed major brand advertisements were displayed alongside posts promoting Nazism.
The White House has not only established its official account on Threads but also created accounts for key figures including the President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman.
Robyn Patterson, a spokeswoman for the White House, explained the decision to join Threads, stating that it stems from a commitment to engage with the public on various platforms.
“Folks, it’s President Biden,” said his first post, which he made on his 81st birthday. “You’re hearing from me today from a new platform but my message to you hasn’t changed.”
“I don’t see a dark, dismal, divided future for America,” Biden added. “I see an America about to take off.”
The White House’s move to Threads, a platform overseen by Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg, lends significant credibility to the platform. This shift is occurring alongside a trend where notable public figures are transitioning from X to Threads, often citing Musk’s behavior as a key factor in their decision.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the home of Facebook and Instagram, launched Threads in July in a bid to depose Musk’s X, then known as Twitter, as the go-to platform for celebrities, companies and governments to make public statements.
(With inputs from agencies)
In a related context, major corporations such as Comcast, The Walt Disney Co, and Warner Bros Discovery have recently decided to halt their advertising on X, previously known as Twitter.
This announcement coincides with X’s legal action against the media watchdog group Media Matters. X has accused Media Matters of defamation, following a report that claimed major brand advertisements were displayed alongside posts promoting Nazism.
The White House has not only established its official account on Threads but also created accounts for key figures including the President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman.
Robyn Patterson, a spokeswoman for the White House, explained the decision to join Threads, stating that it stems from a commitment to engage with the public on various platforms.
“Folks, it’s President Biden,” said his first post, which he made on his 81st birthday. “You’re hearing from me today from a new platform but my message to you hasn’t changed.”
“I don’t see a dark, dismal, divided future for America,” Biden added. “I see an America about to take off.”
The White House’s move to Threads, a platform overseen by Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg, lends significant credibility to the platform. This shift is occurring alongside a trend where notable public figures are transitioning from X to Threads, often citing Musk’s behavior as a key factor in their decision.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the home of Facebook and Instagram, launched Threads in July in a bid to depose Musk’s X, then known as Twitter, as the go-to platform for celebrities, companies and governments to make public statements.
(With inputs from agencies)
