Yes, Virginia, the White House does have a Tumblr page. And its not a fan-made page full of POTUS hate or rants about Michelle Obama’s arms. No, its a legit, well made, brand new way that the White House PR team is trying to reach out to the people of the internet.
Yes they have a Twitter too.
Here’s the link if you need to see it to believe it.
“An open inherent is an engine for freedom around the world” – White House We the People on net neutrality.
This quote is the top post on the White House’s Tumblr page, and oddly, its the most appropriate one for the context of this blog. Because, like I have the ability to write on this blog about almost anything I want to, this Tumblr page is an excellent demonstration of the use of free speech. Not that the White House would try to demonstrate free speech by saying something absurdly controversial, but because the White House can prove that its speech is not restricted to Washington Post columns.
Meanwhile, Tumblr is an open blogging source used my many of todays youth, (very similar to Twitter but more media based, i.e. the ability to post .gifs and videos) and the White House is doing itself a favor by making itself accessible to this demographic.
Everyone’s favorite never ending blog feeder.
Furthermore, not only does the page promote the current administration’s political policies, but it gives us an inside picture of the people and characters who work inside the White House – reminding us that even the Government is run by humans.
While I don’t have a Tumblr, I think it’s kind of cool that the White House does. I do, however, have a Twitter and like following the White House and President Obama. Sure, I know that the President isn’t the one actually tweeting, but sometimes I make myself believe so. Hopefully, the Tumblr account can serve as a way to keep people more informed about government operations and policy. For instance, it may have come in handy with all of the technical problems with the launch of Obamacare. I’d imagine that a lot of people probably reached out for help signing up and getting through the documents; therefore, the White House Tumblr account would seems like a great resource.
This is so interesting! I never knew that the White House had a tumblr. I am following them on Twitter, though, and I always love reading their posts. I think it is definitely a good way to reach out to the younger generations, and as you said, to remind everyone that the government is run by real people. I do always wonder who is actually tweeting them, so that would definitely be interesting to have more information about! I will definitely have to look up the White House tumblr page though!
This administration has certainly made unprecedented efforts to reach out and connect with the general populous. As you’ve said, they have a Tumblr, a Twitter, and I believe a Facebook page. But social media is not the only online medium that the White House is using to get in touch with Americans. Have you heard of the White House’s online petition portal? It’s an online resource that allows anyone to start a petition on whitehouse.gov. If the petition receives an adequate number (I forget the exact amount) of signatures within a given time frame, then the administration has pledged to issue an official response. If you want a true reminder that even the government is run by humans, look no further than the administrations official response to a petition for the United States to build a real-life Death Star (yes, like the one in Star Wars). Seriously, check out the response; I promise it’s hilarious.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking
While I don’t have a Tumblr (1. it reminds me of being 14 and thinking I was cool because I had a snarky AIM screename and 2. I had one briefly and just didn’t understand the appeal, so I deleted it), I think that this is a great ploy by the White House to appeal and attempt to stay relevant with the younger demographic. As a personal observation, I tend to find that many Tumblr users are more in tune with social justice issues and the like, and the White House creating a Tumblr page may help tap into that “internet activism.” A lot of media attention was focused on the young, twenty-something demographic NOT signing up for Obamacare, so perhaps this page will help get the attention of young Americans regarding a variety of initiatives that will help them in the long run.