Nova Scotia reviewing use of X as New Brunswick logs off platform

The Nova Scotia government will be staying on social media platform X for now.

Since New Brunswick premier Susan Holt signalled her government will abandon the social media platform X, previously know as Twitter, it’s prompted the Nova Scotia government to consider its use of the platform.

Nova Scotia’s deputy premier Barbara Adams told reporters Thursday the Progressive Conservative government is concerned about certain content on the site and is reviewing their use of X. However, Adams stopped short of saying whether they’ll leave it or not.

“Our government takes these issues very seriously,” said Adams. “What we have seen online is incredibly concerning and we are certainly watching what is unfolding and examining our practices right now.”

Adam suggests the government still relies on X and other social media platforms to share information, especially emergency messaging.

“Getting emergency messaging out to as many Nova Scotians is the number one goal,” said Adams. “And we do have a number of Nova Scotians who are still on that platform.”

Both opposition parties have concerns over disturbing content being shared on the platform they say is not suitable for youth to be engaging with.

NDP leader Claudia Chender says her party is leaving the platform by the end of the week, while the Nova Scotia Liberals have already ceased using the platform.

“There is no real reason to be on that platform,” said Chender. “As we heard during the Mass Casualty Commission, we saw that if we want to quickly and effectively communicate with Nova Scotians that isn’t the right platform to be on.”

Sydney-Membertou MLA Derek Mombourquette said this is a very important conversation to have and it’s why they pushed a Bill last session to put an age requirement on the use of social media sites like X.

“We stopped using it, the Liberal caucus doesn’t use it and I don’t use it, for obvious reasons,” said Mombourquette. “The violence that we see on it is pretty upsetting.”

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said the province will stop using X as a platform for “routine communications” after concerns were raised by the province’s child and youth advocate of violence and sexualized content being shared on the platform.

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