Users Automatically Following New President's Accounts on Facebook and Instagram
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A surprising phenomenon has been observed among some Facebook and Instagram users, with many finding themselves automatically following the accounts of President Donald Trump or Vice President JD Vance this week after the president was inaugurated.
The reason behind this unexpected shift in followers lies in the way official U.S. government accounts are managed on these social media platforms. Meta spokesman Andy Stone explained in a Threads post that the official POTUS and White House accounts are indeed managed by the White House, and as such, they change when the occupant of the White House changes.
This means that after the new president is sworn in, the Facebook and Instagram accounts of the previous administration are archived. The posts, including followers, from these archived accounts are then transferred to the new official accounts.
How Accounts Are Transferred
The process by which users are automatically following the newly inaugurated president's account is based on their previous following history with official U.S. government accounts. When a user follows an official POTUS or White House account, they are also indirectly following the new occupant of the White House when that person takes office.
Stone noted in his Threads post that this transfer occurs because the accounts for the U.S. vice president and first lady also undergo changes with each new presidential administration. This implies a structured process for managing official government social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
Archiving Previous Administration's Accounts
As of Tuesday morning, Joe Biden's archived POTUS account had an impressive 11 million followers on Facebook, mirroring the number of followers President Trump's official POTUS account enjoyed. This significant number highlights the broad reach and popularity of these official social media accounts.
The archiving of previous administration's accounts is a deliberate process aimed at preserving their posts, including followers, for historical and transparency purposes. This means that users who followed these accounts before inauguration day may now find themselves following the newly inaugurated president's account without explicitly being notified or asked to unfollow.
What Users Can Do
For users who do not wish to follow an account they were automatically added to, there are clear steps they can take. To unfollow an account, they need only click the ellipsis on the profile page and then select "unfollow" or "block." This allows users to regain control over their social media feeds and tailor them according to their preferences.
By taking these simple actions, users can ensure that their social media feed reflects their interests and aligns with their personal choices. The ease of this process underscores the user-friendly nature of Facebook and Instagram, allowing individuals to customize their online experience.
Conclusion
The phenomenon of users being automatically followed by the newly inaugurated president's account is a result of the structured management practices adopted by Meta for official U.S. government accounts on its platforms.
This process ensures continuity and transparency, allowing users to easily transition from following one administration to another without significant disruptions. By understanding this behind-the-scenes mechanism, users can better navigate their social media feeds and enjoy a smoother online experience.