But when he got to Washington, the New Jersey Democrat had to start an official account from scratch, with zero followers.
That’s because congressional ethics rules bar Booker and other lawmakers from transferring their personal or campaign followers to their official government Twitter accounts. The prohibition — in place because lawmakers aren’t allowed to use office tools for campaign purposes — is part of an increasingly complex social media landscape that elected leaders must navigate.
To help make sense of it all, Twitter has invested in a Washington-based team to act as a liaison between the company and government entities that use the service. The group doesn’t have any lobbyists or political agenda. Instead, this five-person contingent, which works with every level of government, from town mayors to the White House, serves the growing network of government entities for which Twitter has become a part of everyday life.
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Of course, over-sharing can backfire. A website maintained by the watchdog Sunlight Foundation called “Politwoops” that tracks posts deleted by politicians serves as a graveyard of congressional digital mishaps. In January, freshman Republican Rep. Mike Bishop of Michigan tweeted photos from the House floor in violation of chamber rules that bar photography. He deleted them soon after. Last summer, several lawmakers removed tweets of praise for the release of hostage Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl once details of how the Obama administration handled the negotiations became known. Still, Twitter’s D.C. reps hold that the opportunity to connect directly with constituents is well worth the risk.
“The best members of Congress who use Twitter are the ones who are using it themselves and using it in an authentic way,” Sharp said. “It’s not something to be afraid of. Opening this new gateway for that direct one-on-one communication gateway with constituents is something we haven’t had in a long time.”
