For the first time in the world’s history, the ideas, opinions, and activities of the president of a country are being communicated to the world instantaneously through social media without checks and verification.
Donald Trump, who has been in office as US president for less than two weeks, has continued unabated his habit of live-tweeting his thoughts, from politics to media as well as his feelings and emotions, on his personal account, @realDonaldTrump.
He opened the account in 2009 and used it heavily before his presidential run. It got even more wear during his campaign. Trump became infamous for conveying inaccurate and misleading messages to the point where it was suggested that his aides take his phone away from him before he could do himself further damage.
His tweets showed his naked personality, warts and all.
They were sexist: “27 Jan 2016: I refuse to call Megyn Kelly a bimbo, because that would not be politically correct. Instead I will only call her a lightweight reporter!”
Fabricated: “6 Nov. 2012: the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese to make US manufacturing non-competitive.”
Offensive: “8 May 2013: Sorry losers and haters, but my IQ is one of the highest—and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure, it’s not your fault.”
There are more tweets worse than this, many contradictory and insulting, written by a man who does not think before he tweets.
As it happens, none of his blunders had a negative effect on most of his staunch supporters, and Trump won the general election to his own surprise, as it looked like Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton had clinched the win.
As his tweets reveal, the world is now dealing with a loose-cannon leader who unfortunately happens to be the head of a global superpower.
The problem here is not with the tweeting itself, but with how Trump is using it as a platform to convey messages as a head of state.
He uses Twitter to spread his increasingly narcissistic point of view: “22 Jan 2017: Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!”
He uses it to announce important and relevant news, such as his choice for a Supreme Court justice: “31 Jan. 2017: Getting ready to deliver a VERY IMPORTANT DECISION! 8:00 P.M.” followed by an invitation to view a White House video, then, “Hope you like my nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court. He is a good and brilliant man, respected by all.”
Seriously, the nomination for a new SCOTUS was tweeted as if it were just another episode of “The Apprentice.”
The most dangerous of his Twitter practices is that his tweets are posted without confirmation nor verification. His tweets do not seem to be pre-inspected for accuracy (he is not known for being factual, anyway).
He has declined to use the position’s official account, @POTUS (acronym for President of the United States), which was set up for the first time during the first term of former President Barack Obama and that Obama used while he was in office.
Trump’s non-use of @POTUS is another sign of disregard for the protocols of the position, a trait we can observe in his other behaviors. He signs executive orders without having them checked and run by the proper officers and instructs the implementation of orders that might be unconstitutional and unlawful, causing widespread outrage and animosity.
This lack of an inspection and confirmation procedure of these EOs and other instructions reflect the way he uses Twitter—offhand, immediate, and without forethought of consequences.
Twitter, Facebook, and other forms of social media allow instant transmission of a message and reception of feedback. Its openness allows participation and builds community. In the case of such high officials as presidents and popes, there are checks and approvals made before anything is posted online, as communications from such personages could have far-reaching ramifications.
Trump, however, has dismissed those considerations. That’s why his undisciplined use of Twitter makes him dangerous—if, in a fit of pique, he tweets “Let’s nuke [insert country here]”, what would the likely consequence be?
The world will have to get used to this though, because it looks like Trump’s penchant for tweeting without thinking is a habit he’s loathe to break. He has changed the way governance is communicated—and in this case, for the worse rather than better.
Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember