From Reset to Retain: The New Era of @POTUS Follower Policies on Social Media
What to Do If You Don’t Want to Follow the New @POTUS Accounts
When a new president takes office, the official @POTUS accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram are handed over to the incoming administration. Historically, this process involved a complete reset of followers, but recent transitions on Facebook and Instagram have shown that followers are now often retained, allowing the new administration to inherit the previous audience. This contrasts with Twitter (now X), where accounts are archived, and followers are not transferred.
For example, on Twitter:
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The current administration’s account is @POTUS.
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The Biden administration’s archived account is @POTUS46Archive.
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The Obama administration’s archived account is @POTUS44.
As of January 22, 2025, the current @POTUS Twitter account has approximately 1.1 million followers, indicating that followers were not moved over during the transition. This policy ensures a clean slate for each administration on Twitter, unlike Facebook and Instagram, where the follower base is retained. According to this AP News article, these changes on Facebook and Instagram have sparked debate about user autonomy and the implications of automatic follower retention.
This difference in policy highlights the importance of owning your platform and maintaining direct communication channels like blogs and newsletters.
Here’s what you can do if you’d rather not follow the new @POTUS accounts and some ideas for creating your own space to engage with your audience on your terms.
On raulcolon.net, we’ve prioritized building our own digital space, and this blog is just one example of how you can take charge of your platform.
How to Stop Following the New @POTUS Accounts
If you’re not interested in following the new administration’s updates, here’s how to manage your preferences:
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Manually Unfollow the Accounts
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On Instagram: Visit the @POTUS profile and click "Unfollow."
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On Facebook: Visit the @POTUS page, click the three dots (menu), and select "Unfollow."
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Adjust Notification Settings If you don’t want to completely unfollow but prefer not to see regular updates:
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On Instagram: Mute the account by clicking the bell icon and selecting "Mute notifications."
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On Facebook: Change your following preferences to "Unfollow," so posts won’t appear in your feed.
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Block the Account (If Necessary) Blocking the account ensures that you won’t see any content from it:
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On Instagram: Go to the profile, click the three dots, and select "Block."
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On Facebook: Visit the page, open the menu, and select "Block."
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Provide Feedback to the Platform Many social platforms allow users to give feedback on features. If you feel strongly about the automatic follower retention policy, consider submitting your opinion via the platform’s help or feedback section.
Take Control: Build Your Own Platform
The automatic transition of followers on Facebook and Instagram raises concerns about propaganda and the ability of administrations to push agendas, particularly when they conflict with values such as protecting marginalized communities. To counter this, consider creating and maintaining your own digital spaces. Here’s how:
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Start a Blog Use platforms like WordPress to set up a personal or organizational blog. This ensures that you control the narrative and aren’t subject to the policies of social media platforms.
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Launch a Newsletter Services like Substack or Mailchimp allow you to communicate directly with your audience. Encourage followers to subscribe to your updates for reliable, uncensored information.
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Build a Community Leverage private platforms or forums to foster discussion and share resources without interference or algorithms influencing visibility.
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Promote Your Independent Channels Use your social media presence to direct followers to your blog or newsletter. Over time, this approach reduces reliance on platforms that may compromise your values.
At my main business, Limonade Media, we have helped countless content creators and brands build their own infrastructure to serve their audiences effectively. By creating their own platforms, these clients have not only grown their reach but also converted audiences into loyal customers and clients. This approach ensures that their messaging remains authentic and aligned with their values.
Historical Context: How Follower Transitions Used to Work
The way social media platforms handle the transfer of official government accounts has evolved significantly:
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During the Obama Administration Transition (2017): When President Obama left office, the @POTUS Twitter account was archived as @POTUS44, and all followers were reset. Users had to actively follow the new @POTUS account managed by the Trump administration.
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During the Trump Administration Transition (2021): The process remained consistent on Twitter, with followers not being transferred. However, on Facebook and Instagram, followers were retained, marking a divergence in policy across platforms.
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Current Policy: On Twitter, each administration starts fresh with a new @POTUS account, while Facebook and Instagram allow follower retention. As noted earlier, the current @POTUS Twitter account has 1.1 million followers, reflecting a fresh start.
Why the Policy Changed
The decision to retain followers on platforms like Facebook and Instagram likely stems from:
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Maximizing Audience Reach: A reset significantly reduces the reach of official accounts, potentially hampering communication during critical early days of a new administration.
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Administrative Efficiency: Retaining followers reduces the administrative burden and ensures a seamless transition.
However, these benefits often come at the cost of user choice and reinforce the perception of forced exposure to government messaging.
Why Retaining Followers on Facebook and Instagram Raises Concerns About Autonomy and Control
The retention of followers during administration transitions on platforms like Facebook and Instagram may seem like a minor technicality, but it highlights larger issues of propaganda and control. By creating your own platforms, you can maintain autonomy, foster meaningful engagement, and avoid being subjected to policies that don’t align with your values.
Taking control of your digital presence is a powerful way to ensure your voice is heard on your
Take Control of Your Digital Presence:
Building Platforms That Align with Your Values
At raulcolon.net, we strive to lead by example, offering independent and thoughtful content while helping others do the same through Limonade Media. If you’re ready to create your own digital space, reach out—let’s build something that reflects your vision and serves your audience authentically.
