Letter to the Editor: Public information isn’t Facebook
The select portion of the population that uses facebook can get information from the forest service, sheriff’s office, Caltrans, CHP and other governmental agencies that is not available to those that cannot or choose not to support social media.
In my opinion government agencies should not be supporting private social media websites exclusively. The agencies should provide the same information on their “official” webpages. The citizenry they serve can use the “official *.gov” site to verify that the information on the social media site is accurate.
Why is this an issue? Social media sites have proven to be unreliable sources of information. Those who manage the social media sites pick and choose what information is allowed. You cannot take what you read or observe on those sites as “official” information. The government agencies that use those sites cannot control what information is released on the site and you, the user, cannot control what information you receive.
Is there no ethical standard that defines when a governmental (tax payer supported) agency can use the power of the agency to assist a private organization to make money? Social media accounts do not exist for the user nor for the public good. They exist to make money. Tax payer supported agencies should not be used to fill the treasure chest of any private organization when alternatives exist.
I am thankful for the Plumas News reporters and staff. I can trust that information is presented to keep me informed. I am not thankful that the US Forest Service has chosen to have a virtual community meeting on a social media platform that only a certain percentage of the population has access to or uses. The population that may attend that meeting is indeed virtual and the agency has no idea how many people they have reached or not reached.
To the agencies of the people, please consider using your own official web sites to keep those you serve informed. If you have time to type it up for the social media website, you can cut and paste it to your agency’s website. If not, why not?
Phil Shafer
Quincy