During the recent Fourth of July weekend, South Dakota's Governor Kristi Noem made a quiet shift in her digital presence.
According to Fox News, the governor deactivated two high-profile state-affiliated social media accounts, prompting questions and concerns.
The withdrawal influenced her official accounts on X, previously known as Twitter and Facebook. Messages on these platforms indicated the accounts no longer existed, leaving many followers in the dark.
After these deactivations, Noem's communication team guided the public and media to a new official account on X, @GovNoemOffice. This channel started its digital life on July 3, providing official updates and press releases.
No explicit reasons have been provided for the shutdown of the prior accounts, which collectively boasted over 700,000 followers. This silence from the Governor's office has fueled speculations and inquiries from both the public and the press.
This incident comes amidst various activities and public engagements by Governor Noem. Notably, she participated in February this year's Conservative Political Action Conference and visited the FOX Business Network Studios in New York City in early May.
Local media and social media groups were the first to report the account deactivations. A user from a South Dakota-focused Facebook group expressed confusion, posting, "So when did Gov Noem delete her official Governor Kristi Noem FB page???????" which echoed the sentiments of many.
Ian Fury, a spokesperson for Governor Noem, has directed inquiries and followers to the new account but has shed no light on the reasons behind the deletions.
Engaging in a practice common among politicians, Noem maintains separate accounts for personal and official business. However, the abrupt removal of her state-affiliated profiles without explanation remains unusual.
Republican state Representative Tony Venhuizen commented on the typical separation of official and personal social media accounts among elected officials:
On a political or personal account, you can offer an opinion or promote campaign events, whereas on the official account, you’re going to be providing information about the action of state government, disaster response, and any other number of things. Generally, it's a good idea to separate those.
This approach delineates the boundaries between personal views and governmental announcements, which ensures that official communications are free from political bias.
Noem's online activity also includes responses to backlash regarding her memoir, particularly contents that involved a past interaction with a farm. In April, she addressed these criticisms on her personal X account.
Governor Noem's decision to deactivate two major social media accounts has raised questions about transparency and communication strategies in political offices. As the community adjusts to this change, the role of digital platforms in governing and public interaction continues to evolve, closely watched by public officials and constituents alike.
