Police Osnabrück switches from Platform X to WhatsApp for Citizens' Infos
Police Osnabrück switches from Platform X to WhatsApp for Citizens' Infos
The Osnabrück police department has made a significant decision that could influence the way it communicates with the public. Social media channels play a crucial role for the police, especially when it comes to keeping the population up to date on large operations or potential dangers. Now the police department in Osnabrück says goodbye to the platform X, which was previously known as Twitter, and changes to WhatsApp.
In its explanation, the police department announced that it will no longer spread any messages via the platform X and that all existing accounts of the associated agencies will be deleted. From now on, the WhatsApp channels are supposed to stand in order to provide the citizens with information. The decision to withdraw from X makes the Osnabrück police department the first police officer in Germany to take this step. The Osnabrück police chief Michael Maßmann came to the conclusion that the benefit of spreading information about X was no longer available. He underlined the agency's intention to take new ways in crisis communication and to achieve larger ranges when addressing the population.
The move to WhatsApp
The move to WhatsApp has been carried out from September 1, 2024. From this date, each of the concerned police inspections, including Osnabrück, Emsland/Grafschaft Bentheim, Leer/Emden and Aurich/Wittmund, will be represented with their own WhatsApp channel. This step could reach many people in the region directly and enable them to get information faster and easier. In addition to WhatsApp, the police are also active on other platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to diversify communication and to address various target groups efficiently.
The Ministry of the Interior Lower Saxony left no doubt that other police authorities in Lower Saxony do not currently intend to withdraw from platform X. It was emphasized that the decision on the use of social media is responsible for the individual authorities and that X is considered to be a valuable means of communication for the external communication of the police.
With this switch to WhatsApp, the Osnabrück police department could open a new chapter in the digital information of its citizens. In this change, Maßmann sees the view of a broader and more informed public, which can ultimately also contribute to the security of the region. It remains to be seen whether this step will bring the hoped -for result, but it shows a clear trend towards direct and faster communication in police work.
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