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allegorical oracle

(6,139 posts)
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:34 PM Apr 2025

What? We must now sign up with X to receive Social Security notifications?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) unveiled Thursday that it would use the social platform X to make announcements going forward, instead of traditional press releases or memos typically posted to the agency’s website.

“The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public — formerly known as Twitter,” Linda Kerr-Davis, SSA Midwest-West regional commissioner told employees in a call Thursday, according to Federal News Network (FNN).

snip

“I know this probably sounds very foreign to you — it did to me as well — and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now,” she added.

The SSA’s last press release, which was posted March 27 on the website, denied reports that local field offices may be closing. It also features a link to an inactive social media account for the agency that encouraged website viewers to follow the press office on X, which is owned by close Trump adviser and donor Elon Musk.

(Last I checked, X costs $32/ yr to join. And that goes to help Musk support his 14 kids.)

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5245029-social-security-administration-social-platform-x-releases/

59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What? We must now sign up with X to receive Social Security notifications? (Original Post) allegorical oracle Apr 2025 OP
F*ck that. We get supporting organizations to join, monitor and report. We don't need to. nt CousinIT Apr 2025 #1
Exactly! SheltieLover Apr 2025 #8
Meaning that X/Musk can turn them on and off at will? enough Apr 2025 #2
Honestly, this made no sense to me and I tried to verify it because I hope allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #4
Next? X required to login to SSA Account? Captain Zero Apr 2025 #5
EXACTLY. B.See Apr 2025 #25
Social Security Says On X It's Not Switching All Communications To X (Update). While it's hard to know what's true Silent Type Apr 2025 #3
Thank you for that info. Hope it holds true. It's difficult enough to devine the allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #7
Social Security Says On X It's Not Switching All Communications To X (Update) question everything Apr 2025 #6
Translation: they didn't like the feedback Maeve Apr 2025 #9
X is getting paid $500 million to take over the communications. Doodley Apr 2025 #10
Shame on you... but it's okay. allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #13
Just forcing more people to have to subscribe to Twitter would be a boost krkaufman Apr 2025 #24
Exactly. This is what an oligarchy is all about! Doodley Apr 2025 #38
Too cheap not fooled Apr 2025 #40
Good point! Doodley Apr 2025 #55
Not me claudette Apr 2025 #11
Benefits to seniors, the poor, and children need to be slashed, but welfare for corporations MUSK continue. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2025 #12
Since I trust no one in this administration TNNurse Apr 2025 #14
They are not a government agency called x............pound sand............... turbinetree Apr 2025 #15
Yeah- NO. X can kiss my big ol' fanny. Alliepoo Apr 2025 #16
Never AverageOldGuy Apr 2025 #17
Twitter doesn't cost to join, but this is absolutely shitty for them to do. themaguffin Apr 2025 #18
Why, when I checked, did X come up as charging $32/year to join? allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #32
i don't know. here's what i googled: is there a charge to sign up for x orleans Apr 2025 #43
That's to get a blue checkmark. nt. druidity33 Apr 2025 #45
Nope. Not me. Fuck Musk. Joinfortmill Apr 2025 #19
BULL SHIT! elleng Apr 2025 #20
Don't do X. Period. Evolve Dammit Apr 2025 #21
This is what they want to do charge a fee and privatize the system.................fuck them and pound sand turbinetree Apr 2025 #22
Yet another conflict of interest / grift example for Musk krkaufman Apr 2025 #23
Remember, the buck stops with Trump B.See Apr 2025 #28
Enough people here on DU are still on Xitter soldierant Apr 2025 #26
"....we are in different times now", she added. sprinkleeninow Apr 2025 #27
What?? B.See Apr 2025 #31
Attempting to curb my mouth during this time of sprinkleeninow Apr 2025 #33
understood B.See Apr 2025 #35
I'll wait for this to be litigated. SheltieLover Apr 2025 #29
I am in the process of organizing a protest at my local SS office. yellow dahlia Apr 2025 #30
As opposed to the tried-and-true, more universal methods SouthBayDem Apr 2025 #34
fuck that. nt barbtries Apr 2025 #36
X is free, BTW. WarGamer Apr 2025 #37
Oh -- thank you for that information. allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #39
Sure looks like LilElf70 Apr 2025 #41
they're charging money to join? since when did that crap start. orleans Apr 2025 #42
No, they are not charging money to join themaguffin Apr 2025 #46
Poor little Elon has to make more money. kerry-is-my-prez Apr 2025 #44
There is no cost Kaleva Apr 2025 #48
X remains free for those who just want to follow or browse Kaleva Apr 2025 #47
Not true. I can do all those things and I don't pay anything. Nt scipan Apr 2025 #50
This is for new accounts Kaleva Apr 2025 #53
Or wait for 3 months. Ms. Toad Apr 2025 #56
So it'll still be free. Unlike what the OP claimed Kaleva Apr 2025 #57
That's how I read it. Ms. Toad Apr 2025 #58
Thank you for that information! Kaleva Apr 2025 #59
No. You have misunderstood. MineralMan Apr 2025 #49
What % of social security recipients are not on the internet? applegrove Apr 2025 #51
More Musk grifting. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #52
An X account is free. It only costs extra to go premium (blue check, etc). Celerity Apr 2025 #54

allegorical oracle

(6,139 posts)
4. Honestly, this made no sense to me and I tried to verify it because I hope
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:49 PM
Apr 2025

it's not true. I absolutely refuse to sign up with X for anything. Was hoping anyone here could show me that I'm incorrect.

If the gov't starts funneling all the agency public info thru X, it means many people won't be able to stay up-to-date with what's going on.

Captain Zero

(8,711 posts)
5. Next? X required to login to SSA Account?
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:50 PM
Apr 2025

They are making X a surveillance platform of SS recipients.

Make me change my mind.

 

Silent Type

(12,412 posts)
3. Social Security Says On X It's Not Switching All Communications To X (Update). While it's hard to know what's true
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:46 PM
Apr 2025

nowadays, below is what Huff Post is saying now.

The second link below, is what apears to be the "Social Security" X page, but I'm not sure it's real either.

In any event, I'd bet money they aren't going to rely solely on X, although I'm sure Musk would love that.


"The agency batted down a Wired report that it was moving all of its communications to X ... with a post on X.

"“We are no longer planning to issue press releases or those dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes,” an SSA regional commissioner announced during an internal meeting this week, according to Wired’s sources.

"Social Security spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. Hours later, the agency responded to the Wired report with a post on X: “This is false. Social Security will continue to communicate through any and all mediums.”"

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/social-security-administration-x-press-releases_n_67f9770ae4b0c859a8c0b840




allegorical oracle

(6,139 posts)
7. Thank you for that info. Hope it holds true. It's difficult enough to devine the
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:52 PM
Apr 2025

facts from the fake, but The Hill is usually fairly reliable.

question everything

(51,624 posts)
6. Social Security Says On X It's Not Switching All Communications To X (Update)
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:52 PM
Apr 2025

Social Security spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. Hours later, the agency responded to the Wired report with a post on X: “This is false. Social Security will continue to communicate through any and all mediums.”

As of Friday night, it still had not posted anything new on its press release site.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/social-security-administration-x-press-releases_n_67f9770ae4b0c859a8c0b840

Maeve

(43,328 posts)
9. Translation: they didn't like the feedback
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:55 PM
Apr 2025

And posting that ON X says it was sorta planned, but now maybe...not....

Doodley

(11,573 posts)
10. X is getting paid $500 million to take over the communications.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 04:03 PM
Apr 2025

Okay, I made that up! But who would be surprised?

krkaufman

(13,957 posts)
24. Just forcing more people to have to subscribe to Twitter would be a boost
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:30 PM
Apr 2025

It doesn't require a direct payment.

eppur_se_muova

(40,865 posts)
12. Benefits to seniors, the poor, and children need to be slashed, but welfare for corporations MUSK continue. nt
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 04:25 PM
Apr 2025

TNNurse

(7,481 posts)
14. Since I trust no one in this administration
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:01 PM
Apr 2025

and they change their plans and minds several times a day, I as a SS recipient will join any class action suit that surfaces.

turbinetree

(26,932 posts)
15. They are not a government agency called x............pound sand...............
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:02 PM
Apr 2025

I am so glad I went to the SSA to get hard copies of my benefits...................

Alliepoo

(2,762 posts)
16. Yeah- NO. X can kiss my big ol' fanny.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:07 PM
Apr 2025

I dumped my account and I’ll be danged if I’ll sign up with that freakin’ Nazi site.

orleans

(36,632 posts)
43. i don't know. here's what i googled: is there a charge to sign up for x
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 08:57 PM
Apr 2025

and this was the a.i. answer

"While creating an X account is free, X Premium, which offers additional features, costs money and has different tiers with varying prices. "

where did you find your information?

turbinetree

(26,932 posts)
22. This is what they want to do charge a fee and privatize the system.................fuck them and pound sand
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:22 PM
Apr 2025

krkaufman

(13,957 posts)
23. Yet another conflict of interest / grift example for Musk
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:28 PM
Apr 2025

Twitter is dying, so he pushes government agencies to make it the default communication tool. Just ludicrous.

B.See

(7,638 posts)
28. Remember, the buck stops with Trump
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:38 PM
Apr 2025

Musk wouldn't be doing it, if the fascist in the O.Offuce didn't APPROVE.

(yeah, I know "office" is misspelled... somehow it seems apropos.)

soldierant

(9,256 posts)
26. Enough people here on DU are still on Xitter
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:36 PM
Apr 2025

fo whatever reasons, and enough of those are on Social Security themselves, and enough of them are kind and considerate, that I would expect anything they dump out will get posted here. There is already a forum for :Social Security and Medicare" using that forum would enable us to find such "news" quickly

sprinkleeninow

(22,044 posts)
27. "....we are in different times now", she added.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:36 PM
Apr 2025

Hay lady! I say humongous bull biscuits on your words.

yellow dahlia

(4,302 posts)
30. I am in the process of organizing a protest at my local SS office.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:42 PM
Apr 2025

Here is a link to the "call to action". https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/hands-off-social-security

Just like April 5th, anyone can host a protest.

I haven't posted mine on the site yet, because I am ironing out the details, such as time.

I am going to make a sign that shows my support for Social Security employees. Also trying to word one that objects to X taking over communications at SSA. So many facets that elicit ideas for signs.

SouthBayDem

(33,096 posts)
34. As opposed to the tried-and-true, more universal methods
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:54 PM
Apr 2025

of text message or email?

The grift is so freaking obvious here.

LilElf70

(1,348 posts)
41. Sure looks like
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 06:32 PM
Apr 2025

no notifications for me. I'm not giving Musk shit. Not on my watch.

Trump has f'ed up everything.

I hope we make it to 28.

orleans

(36,632 posts)
42. they're charging money to join? since when did that crap start.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 08:52 PM
Apr 2025

it's weirdly amusing that eloon will be probably be trying to move as much as he can from gov. websites to his fucking twit platform -- desperate for more readers/tweeters? yes. absolutely desperate.

Kaleva

(40,131 posts)
47. X remains free for those who just want to follow or browse
Sun Apr 13, 2025, 08:48 AM
Apr 2025

Last edited Sun Apr 13, 2025, 03:28 PM - Edit history (1)

For new accounts, there's a cost if one wants to post , like, bookmark or reply .

Kaleva

(40,131 posts)
53. This is for new accounts
Sun Apr 13, 2025, 03:26 PM
Apr 2025


"After an upgrade on Monday, the website said new accounts are required to pay a small annual fee before they are able to post, like, bookmark, and reply."

https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/new-x-users-may-have-to-pay-to-like-post-elon-musk-calls-it-the-only-way-to-curb-bots/articleshow/109342494.cms

I will edit my previous post to make that clear.

Thank you for pointing out my omission.

Ms. Toad

(38,096 posts)
58. That's how I read it.
Mon Apr 14, 2025, 07:39 AM
Apr 2025

You're in purgatory for a free months, like Reddit, to make sure you're not just a scammer. Unlike Reddit, you can buy your way out early.

MineralMan

(150,526 posts)
49. No. You have misunderstood.
Sun Apr 13, 2025, 09:19 AM
Apr 2025

That was limited only to press announcements, not individual communications. And, I doubt that will end up being true, too. Lots of misinformation out there right now.

applegrove

(129,957 posts)
51. What % of social security recipients are not on the internet?
Sun Apr 13, 2025, 03:04 PM
Apr 2025

10%? 25? Crazy. The corruption is etches bit by bit.

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