Just to state the obvious, Meta is a “closed garden” and being a Facebook etc., member is the price of entry – as is a disregard for your own privacy, but that is entirely an individual choice.
For reasons of privacy and disinterest, I am not a Facebook member and therefore can’t see or access a host of information posted by Federal, State and Local Governments around Australia – and this includes politicians, police forces, councils etc.,
This is just incredibly lazy behaviour – 99.9% of Facebook’s communications capability can be achieved by a simple website – it’s social media/engagement capability can’t, but that is often not utilised and often not appropriate. Particularly given Meta’s recent move away from “fact checking”.
So, unless a media channel offers free and/or anonymous usage to all Australians then Governments shouldn’t be using it to convey information – particularly any emergency information. If Governments want to use it as one of many advertising channels that’s a little less problematic – but I would be happier if they directed money locally into firms that almost certainly pay more tax.
