IDF Spokesperson Issues New Directive Restricting Social Media Activity
Brigadier General Efi Defrin has ordered the suspension of all non-official IDF digital accounts, limiting activity to major command and branch channels. The move aims to maintain institutional uniformity during the upcoming Knesset election period.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit has issued a new directive stating that the activity of all digital accounts in the IDF must be frozen, except for "the official accounts of the IDF and the accounts of the directorates, branches, and commands, and this at the command framework level only, without divisions, brigades, and headquarters frameworks."
In a letter signed by IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Efi Defrin, it is stated:
"In recent years, dedicated sites and accounts on social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, etc.) have been opened and operated in various frameworks in the IDF, some of which were opened without prior approval from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and without control and accompaniment by the system, in a way that has led more than once to gaps."
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit attributed the new directive to the approaching Knesset elections. "Given the election period and the need to maintain statehood and uniformity of the message, a new regulation of IDF activity on social networks is required," the document reads, clarifying that "any deviation will be approved at the level of the IDF Spokesperson only."
The IDF has recently dealt with criticism following events related to social networks. One of them was the storm that arose after a soldier from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit was photographed with internet influencer Brayden Peters, better known as "Cluvicolar," who was documented dancing in Miami to a banned Kanye West song that includes samples from Hitler's speeches. The soldier, who served in the International Communications Branch, received a suspended sentence and was transferred from her position.
Another storm arose after an internet star uploaded a video in which he dances while wearing an IDF uniform at a stand he led at the "Yoter" festival for recruits, which he defined as a "beauty stand." Following the criticism, he removed the video, and the IDF stated:
"This is a stand that was set up as part of the 'Yoter' festival without the required approval. The behavior of the soldiers at the stand does not represent the values of the IDF and is not in line with the purpose and essence of the event."
