Following an internal memo from the governmental advisory board on national communications (de Voorlichtingsraad) for Dutch government officials to stop using X, our lab co-director, Claes de Vreese, has spoken to de Volkskrant about the reasons why platform choice for official political communication matters more than one might think. This debate also happens in the context of a broader investigation done by the same newspaper into the threats and insults politicians constantly receive and react to on X.
Claes de Vreese states that staying on the platform legitimizes it and contributes to its relevance, despite it often fostering a toxic or polarized environment where political discussion cannot take place in a healthy way. The initial reasoning for officials to be on the platform was for direct contact with media and journalists; however, more democratically aligned alternatives for communication are plenty, and the argument no longer holds up, according to our director. A number of (local) politicians have already left X in the past few years, and the government is expected to take a joint decision after the summer regarding the advice.
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