After deciding to take a break from Facebook over Christmas, Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson says he has no plans to return to it or any other social media platform.
Simpson says he initially had high hopes that embracing social media would provide a vehicle to support engagement, spread good information, and strengthen democracy.
But he says people’s use of the platforms to spread rumours, pass on false information, and bad mouth people and politicians vastly overwhelms any good.
“Simply put, Facebook and other social media platforms have negated one of the first principles of personal and professional communications: deal directly with the person or organization to get clarity or to remedy a concern or complaint,” Simpson writes in his latest Quesnel news email post. “It has also diminished community dialogue to school yard slurs and bullying; too many adults use language and intimidation tactics on Facebook that they would never accept from others or use in face to face communications.”
Simpson says picking up the phone or emailing the City with a concern is a more effective way of getting an issue resolved than “trolling for likes” by complaining about it on Facebook.
He says the City of Quesnel will continue use its websites and news updates to provide factual, timely information about issues and events.
Simpson says he’s hoping people’s negative social media experiences will result in more residents going back to picking up the phone or dropping by Quesnel City Hall to have their concerns addressed.
