Did you wake up this morning to find yourself inexplicably following President Trump or Vice President Vance on Facebook and Instagram? You're not alone! This surprise digital connection to the new administration has left many users scratching their heads, but the mystery is easily solved. This article unveils the secret behind this sudden influx of new political acquaintances in your feed.
The Great Social Media Presidential Handoff
The transition of power in the United States doesn't just involve physical changes. Behind the scenes of the White House, there is a large-scale social media switchover involving millions of followers and extensive account management. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has clarified that when a new president takes office, the official social media accounts (POTUS, VP, and FLOTUS) transition their followers along with the posts themselves. Think of it as a digital baton pass – millions of virtual followers going along for the ride. What this means is that those who previously followed official U.S. government accounts found their list updated with new presidencies.
The Mechanics of a Presidential Social Media Transition
Meta explains that these government accounts aren't simply repurposed. Instead, when a new president enters office, the previous accounts are archived—posts remain accessible, and followers are systematically moved to the new official account. It's a process that manages the considerable volume of followers tied to those influential pages.
What happened to the old accounts?
Do not fear that you lost contact with your old political pages. The accounts of the previous administrations are neatly stored, archived for historical records and future reference. If you feel the need for a blast from the past you will find the accounts available.
Why Did This Happen To You?
This follower migration isn't a result of any algorithm or hidden policy. Rather, if you had previously been following official U.S. government social media profiles—regardless of which administration was in place—then your accounts were automatically transferred to the updated official pages, once the change happened. It's a behind-the-scenes shift that largely remained unseen by the average user, except to the millions now inexplicably following the new presidents social media accounts.
Staying in the Know Without Unnecessary Following
If, however, you're keen to stay informed on US government announcements without directly following the new President, there are plenty of options! Look for official government press releases, or follow news outlets which specialize in politics. You can also opt into emails or other methods for staying informed in a way which respects your right to avoid automatically updating the accounts that you follow.
How to Adjust Your Following List
So, you found yourself suddenly following someone whose content you don't really wish to see? Don't fret. Meta makes it straightforward to reverse course and tailor your following list. Here's how:
Unfollowing and Blocking Accounts
The process for managing your following list is user-friendly, regardless of what platform you utilize. Simply look for an ellipsis (three vertical dots) typically located within the profile or settings section, and from there select "unfollow". If needed, there is the option to "block" the accounts. This will prevent them from appearing in your feed, but also restrict that account from directly contacting you. This functionality ensures the greatest level of control for the individual user, even in unforeseen situations like presidential social media migrations.
Take Away Points
- Official U.S. government social media accounts automatically transfer their followers to the incoming administration's accounts.
- This happened because you previously followed official accounts from previous presidencies.
- You can easily unfollow or block any accounts that you no longer want to see in your feed.
- Staying up-to-date on official US Government information can also be done without having to follow political accounts directly.