The sad silence of the National Parks Instagram accounts
UPDATE: Jan. 25, 2019, 4:41 p.m. EST The shutdown is over (for now) so keep an eye on the accounts below as they'll crackle back to life soon.
On Dec. 22, 2018, when parts of the federal government went into shutdown mode, it caused a ripple effect that's continued to be felt by workers and the public alike, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Among the wide-ranging consequences of the shutdown has been the silence from the various National Park accounts on Instagram, which have amassed millions of followers across the various handles. The main National Park Service Instagram even has a whopping 1.3 million followers.
The National Park Service posted a message on its account on Dec. 21, 2018 that read, "During the federal government shutdown, we will not monitor or update social media. Some National Park Service areas are accessible, however access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. For more information, visit the park’s website ... "
View this post on Instagram
Similar messages were found across the various park-specific accounts.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
This, of course, makes sense as the posts are handled by federal workers -- park employees or a NPS employee based in Washington, D.C. -- and those folks are at home like hundreds of thousands of other federal employees who aren't getting paid.
SEE ALSO:The toilets are overflowing in national parks. But that's not the worst problem.The lack of pretty photos is hardly the only troubling thing happening with the National Parks system during the shutdown. Because sections of many parks are still open to the public without any oversight, there have been problems ranging from bathrooms overflowing with waste and garbage to a horrible subset of people seemingly intent on doing damage to these invaluable natural resources.
And that's just because of the current shutdown, never mind the deep maintenance deficit the system is still struggling with.
View this post on Instagram
The Instagram accounts coming back to life won't fix many of the issues. But these accounts have been a tremendous success -- and not just in the form of marketing tools that attract more visitors to the parks or fill your Insta feed up with pretty pictures.
The photos and livestreams that happen across these accounts are key tools of advocacy for the parks, be it protection of wildlife living in the parks, educating the public on everything the National Park Service and its employees do, or even promoting ecologically-friendly behavior.
By pulling in millions of people with stunning photos, the parks can then reach a much larger audience when they need to spread the word about conservation efforts or visitor tips, like what do when a bison walks up and licks your car.
View this post on Instagram
If you want to keep your Instagram feed full of National Park photos, there are non-government accounts that can scratch that itch for you. Accounts like National Park Geek, Parks Project, and the National Park Foundation (the NPS's charitable partner) have been keeping the 'gram game going during the shutdown.
View this post on Instagram
And there's always getting in on the action yourself. After all, many of the parks are still open across the country, so if you live near one, consider going and capturing your own stunning photos. The shutdown helped inspire me to drag my poor dog out into the cold to visit my nearest National Park, even in the dead of winter.
Cuyahoga Valley National ParkCredit: Marcus Gilmer/MashableHopefully, even without the activity on the Instagram accounts, love and attention can still be paid to the National Parks. Whether it's donations for upkeep, volunteering to clean up, or simply making a point to visit, maybe these accounts can still draw much-needed support and attention.
You can check out a variety of ways to help out National Parks during the shutdown at this National Park Foundation post.
Whatever the case, just be sure to make yours a safe visit and pick up after yourself.
Featured Video For You
Cardi B speaks out on government shutdown
-
Which is Faster for Gaming, Windows 10 or Windows 11?Seoul records 26 consecutive tropical nights, most on recordThis little home brewing machine is the perfect gadget for beer loversMane stars as Senegal begin title defence with victoryGPU Mining is Dead, Where are my Cheap GPUs?Ukraine can complete World Cup dream in WalesThis dog's ear contains another dog and it's sort of mindThe next frontier in the fight against extremists onlineWhich iPad Model Is Right for You?This iPhone X optical illusion is super freaky
下一篇:I went to an offline dating event for singles. Here's how it went.
- ·US Open 2024 livestream: How to watch US Open tennis for free
- ·These new photos show just how massive Apple's 'spaceship' campus will be
- ·Typhoon Ampil to hit Japan on Friday: forecasters
- ·North Korea to face tougher sanctions in event of nuclear test: Russel
- ·Where to pre
- ·N.K. may hold party congress in May without foreign guests: source
- ·This little home brewing machine is the perfect gadget for beer lovers
- ·Snoop Dogg's 2016 recap is a thing of beauty
- ·We Asked GPT Some Tech Questions, Can You Tell Which Answers Are Human?
- ·Mane snatches dramatic victory for Senegal
- ·我市三级以上汽车客运站开展优质文明服务竞赛
- ·It's 'wrong' to block separated families from being reunited: Moon
- ·To Russia, with Love
- ·How to turn off Facebook's new face recognition features
- ·Hyundai, Kia report zero EV fires from overcharging
- ·上海市茶叶行业协会秘书长:蒙顶山茶需要“个性”
- ·The Weird, Wonderful World of Water Towers
- ·Watch this chill lion climb aboard a safari vehicle full of tourists
- ·Someone keeps photoshopping Trump's face on the Queen and it's terrifying
- ·It's 'wrong' to block separated families from being reunited: Moon
- ·Apple to start manufacturing iPhone Pro in India, report claims
- ·创新 流转土地搞茶叶合作社
- ·Hilarious meme reveals the 'real' names of your favorite celebrities
- ·Seized North Korean ship sold, towed from American Samoa
- ·NASA says Earth just had the hottest day ever recorded
- ·进一步加强对甲型H1N1流感防控工作
- ·Pakistan Cricket at crossroads after shock defeat at Pindi
- ·Mane snatches dramatic victory for Senegal
- ·A professional photographer explains what you're doing wrong on Instagram
- ·Why 'La La Land' is exactly the movie we need right now
- ·What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- ·创新 流转土地搞茶叶合作社
- ·All glitter, no gold
- ·Mane snatches dramatic victory for Senegal
- ·Webb scientists haven't found a rocky world with air. But now they have a plan.
- ·农技驿站巧抓产业“鸡”遇,为乡村振兴添薯光