Soldier Blogs

my favorite vampire

The Department of Defense is on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube—but it has mixed feelings about soldiers’ online lives. The New York Times reports that the Pentagon is expected to issue a new policy on social media next week, and limiting troop access to social networking sites far from off the table, despite the obvious outcry from homesick soldiers that such a move would invite. The internet’s free-for-all anarchy clashes directly with the military’s tightly-controlled, top-down sense of discipline, NYT explains. Though the Army requires soldiers to register with their commanding officers and submit posts for approval, with password protection and a strong sense of secrecy, plenty of soldiers dodge monitoring. What’s more, monitoring thousands of troops is an increasingly Herculean undertaking, and likely counterproductive. Noting Twitter’s role in Iran’s election uprising, Defense Secretary Robert Gates admitted, “This department, I think, is way behind the curve.”

Unknown's avatar

About angelgibson

I am a former big ad agency brand planner, running footloose and fancy-free through the streets of New York City. I read all those huge research reports that explain how and why consumers love or are indifferent to particular brands, the types of messaging that make them break out in night sweats, and the ONE thing you are not doing that your customers really wish you would. I read a lot of other stuff too. I write custom reports, design proprietary research, basically help my smart and fabulous clients become even more so.

One comment

  1. gerry's avatar

    Hello,

    I support the troops.

    Although I’m a Canadian, I support not only Canada’s troops but all troops that fight the war on terrorism and all those who served in prior conflicts. The attached is a show I titled “American Soldier I Salute You” and dedicated it to the United States Armed Forces.

Leave a comment

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started