White House joins Tumblr
By
Frank Konkel
The Obama administration's latest social-media venture promises quotes from the president, video, 'wonky charts' and photos of Bo, the White House dog.
The White House plan for Tumblr, as posted to Tumblr. (White House image.)
Get ready for GIFs from the White House.
The White House has joined Tumblr, and if its first post is any indication, expect a mixture of humor, presidential messages and of course, cute shots of Bo the dog.
“We’ll post things like the best quotes from President Obama, or video of young scientists visiting the White House for the science fair, or photos of adorable moments with Bo,” the inaugural post states. “We’ve got some wonky charts, too. Because to us, those are actually kind of exciting,” the post reads. “But this is also about you. President Obama is committed to making this the most open and accessible administration in history, and our Tumblr is no exception.”
Tumblr, one of more than 60 social media platforms with negotiated federal-friendly terms of service agreements, is known for its ease of posting pictures in GIF format. It is especially popular for those under the age of 25, with half its users either teens or college-aged.
The White House has embraced social media platforms like Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter, and President Obama is one of the most popular figures on these services. Tumblr is next, the White House suggested, adding: "And yes, of course there will be GIFs."
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