To block or not to block

Earlier this week, on my FaceBook page, I posted my thoughts on the use of social media blocking by elected officials.

The post has generated a fair bit of discussion that is encouraging as many people have taken the time to express differing points of view.

From my perspective, when there is a large amount of interest on an issue, citizens see it as important.

An elected official blocking someone through social media may not seem like a significant event. However, for the growing population who do use social media, blocking is a way of denying a person their voice to be heard.

As social media increasingly has become a tool for citizens to hold elected officials to account, the careless use of the block button by elected officials has become an easy way out instead of answering a difficult or unpopular question.

I have even learned of a practice called pre-emptive blocking, where groups of citizens may be blocked by an elected official they have never interacted with online.

We would never tolerate this type of guilt by association off line but it has become an online practice by some elected officials and their senior staff.

To be clear, I will continue to defend the right of elected officials to practise whatever social media policies they feel most comfortable with. Likewise for those who use social media for personal attacks, profanity and threats, it is expected that such behaviours will not be tolerated.

At the same time, I will also caution those who use the block button as a means to avoid accountability or debate. Social media ideally works both ways and citizens deserve the right to be heard.

I am suggesting that elected officials, and those media and pundits who cover politics to consider a social media forgiveness campaign.

How about un-blocking (or unmuting) citizens you have blocked and give them a second chance?

This may not work in all situations, but as elected officials being exposed to more diverse views and being held to account in my view helps build a stronger democracy.

I welcome your comments, questions and concerns.

Dan Albas is the member of Parliament for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. He can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free at 1-800-665-8711.