UnmeltedByRain

Tried to look at an Amber Alert today

https://lemmy.world/post/861609

Tried to look at an Amber Alert today - Lemmy.world

I have a long commute in and out of a large city. Since I spend so much time on the road, I always try to get the details of Amber Alert notifications to be on the lookout for vehicles used in abductions. I guess I can’t do that anymore since Twitter requires an account to see Amber Alerts. Hopefully my state finds another platform to post them.

Jun 30, 2023 at 6:25pmWeb
Show threadBeAwareJun 30, 2023
This belongs in Mildlyinfuriating....not really relevant to a technology community.
Show threadUnmeltedByRainJun 30, 2023
You might be right...I tried to search for a Twitter community, but it doesn't exist here yet apparently.
Show threadbanksymimosaJun 30, 2023
Twitter, just today, started forcing login to see all tweets. So it's relevant and timely.
Show threadBradGanleyJun 30, 2023
Yeah, if you ignore the piece of technology receiving a technological message from another piece of technology which you then view on the piece of technology, I guess there is no technology involved
Show threadGerowenJun 30, 2023

Not sure about what carrier you use or what device you use, but I'm on AT&T using a Pixel 6a with CalyxOS, which is just de-googled Android, and on Android if you accidentally swipe away an amber alert notification you can find it again by going to:

Settings -> Safety & emergency -> Wireless emergency alerts -> Emergency alert history

But your point still stands, governments and public institutions really need to stop relying on privately owned and operated social media platforms for posting stuff like this. If they want to use a social platform to publish alerts, they would be much better off standing up their own Mastodon instance that is "just" for those alerts. People could follow those accounts if they want, and those institutions wouldn't be subject to the whims of overpaid unpredictable man children.

Show threadbetterdeadthanredditJun 30, 2023

Good info, just wanted to add on with instructions for both major mobile platforms. Depending on your specific device and version, there may be some slight differences in how the menu options are worded and you might need to expand a collapsed section in the menu to see the settings.

Source: Google support

Show threadUnmeltedByRainJun 30, 2023
Thanks for the tip, I found it in my notification history.
Show threadEchJun 30, 2023
I've been constantly amazed at how normalized it's gotten for not only other companies, but for governments, to rely so much on sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc, for essential information like Amber Alerts. Shit like this hopefully makes people more aware of how treacherous it is to rely on corporate services for public services. Maybe the gov will finally institute their own web services for public information (unlikely) or at least enact boundaries on services that have been widely adopted (slight more likely).
Show threadWhoRogerJun 30, 2023
But don't you know? They're private companies, you can dictate what they can do! They need to make money! Profits! Responsibility to shareholders! Fuck anything else!
Show threadXeroxCoolJun 30, 2023
No one wants to download a government announcement app or go out of their way to check a government website. Twitter worked so well because people already had accounts, it was a widespread platform, and really helped maximize visibility. I don't really blame officials for putting a lot of announcements on Twitter. It was either that or force some kind of app/system alert to get the word out. Yes, right now cell phones get amber alerts and weather warnings, but could you imagine the uproar if every bill vote, every infrastructure project,, every hours change for each relevant government office was beamed straight to every phone? We'd cry out against the invasion of privacy and forced participation. Or worse, if the government ran the primary Twitter-like website to maintain control. We'd call it the protest as if it was the Chinese or North Korean government right at our fingertips. It was an OK solution in my mind until this entire debacle sought to capitalize overnight on a public fuckup
Show threadWhoRogerJun 30, 2023

"Lost your child? Sign in to receive updates about the search!"

(After signing in)

"You've seen too many updates. Watch an ad or subscribe to Blue to keep receiving information on your lost child."

Show threadManosTheHandsOfFateJun 30, 2023
"No chance of finding your child? Check out these great deals on dolls at Amazon.com."
Show threadAllYourSmurfJun 30, 2023
Twitter's super power was in being a public commons. Now that all tweets are effectively locked behind a login, it's lost that power.
Show threadfoxJun 30, 2023
sucks they are using twitter but check out nitter: nitter.net/about

Nitter
Show thread_katoJul 1, 2023
According to a twitter engineer this is temporary Source: twitter.com/AqueelMiq/status/1674843555486134272
Show threadAnders429Jul 1, 2023
It’s hilarious that I tried to click that link, despite not having a Twitter account.