Cities, counties, school districts, utilities, public health departments, law enforcement agencies, transit authorities — across all areas of government, communications teams are quietly reassessing something that once felt standard practice: open comment sections on social media.
Not because feedback is unwelcome. Not because criticism is uncomfortable. But because the operating environment has changed.
Comment threads are increasingly dominated by misinformation, coordinated agenda-driven posting, and a small number of repeat voices. Staff are spending significant time moderating content that rarely improves public understanding. Legal guidance around limited public forums continues to evolve.