At 5 pm on Tuesday, January 21, the District of North Vancouver deactivated its X account (formerly Twitter). DNV said the social media company owned by billionaire Elon Musk no longer aligns with its corporate values.
“This is something we have been considering for some time now based on changes to the platform. X.com no longer aligns with our corporate values,” the advisory read. “We are researching alternative platforms to ensure we continue to reach people where they are.”
When asked, DNV didn’t specify which misaligned corporate values led to this cancellation.
“We have received complaints about the content on X and our use of the platform. As a result, we have decided to step away from it,” DNV media relations said in an emailed statement. “There continue to be lots of opportunities for us to communicate with our community in ways that align with our values. Residents can continue to find the latest District news on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn or by visiting DNV.org.”
DNV also didn’t provide any details on the volume or the nature of complaints it received.
If the district expected a pat on the back for this move, X wasn’t the place for it. DNV’s last tweet to its 13,000 followers was met with scorn, disbelief and condemnation. Here are some replies to the final tweet: “How absurdly childish you are.” “Speech you hate isn’t hate speech.” “I bet not a single DNV resident had a say in this.” Some residents responded with a picture intended to hurt far more than words: A clown.
Good move DNV…. we did the same!