NASA has issued an official statement as the space agency has begun to shut down its social media accounts.
This will include certain accounts that are dedicated to specific missions including the Voyager mission as well as the Perseverance and Mars Curiosity rovers.
It was revealed yesterday (June 11), that NASA will be streamlining its social media accounts by archiving some.
In a statement, the space agency said: “In today’s crowded digital landscape, cutting through the noise is paramount for any organization trying to connect with its audience. Recognizing this, NASA has embarked on a significant initiative to streamline its extensive social media presence, aiming to create a more unified and impactful digital voice for its groundbreaking work.”
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NASA went on to say: “Over time, NASA’s social media footprint has expanded considerably, growing to over 400 individual accounts across 15 platforms. While this allowed for highly specialized updates, it also created a fragmented digital landscape that was challenging for both the public to navigate and for NASA to manage efficiently.
“To ensure a more cohesive and impactful digital presence, the consolidation project involved a thorough evaluation of every existing account.
“Accounts were assessed based on several key considerations, including their compliance with federal and agency policies, their activity within the last year, their unique value proposition, their level of two-way engagement with the public, and their approach to publishing new, original content versus reposting existing material.”
On X, formerly Twitter, the Voyager page wrote in a post: “Important Update: As part of @NASA’s effort to streamline communications, this account will be archived in coming weeks – but don't worry, my mission isn't going anywhere.”
This prompted replies from social media users, with one person writing: “Why are you going? This is silly! For as long as voyager is voyaging - you should be here.”
Another said: “Please tell me you're saying this only to have a banger scheduled for April 1, 2030!!!!”
A third commented: “Wow, this was actually something I thought NASA was really doing right. Bringing space exploration directly to the public. Will definitely miss it.”
And a fourth user added: “I’ll miss your daily texts from space. Wish your particular X account wouldn’t’ve been chosen for decommission.”
The agency revealed that it was conducting a comprehensive evaluation on its accounts, with some being deactivated or merged with other accounts.
A small number of accounts ‘may be rebranded to better align with the new strategic framework, reflecting a broader scope or a more direct connection to core NASA initiatives’.