Twitter’s policy change affects MSHP Amber Alert system

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A recent change to the ability to use Twitter has limited the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Amber Alert reach.

Recently, users have been having issues viewing posts on Twitter's website without being signed into an account.

Amber Alerts were sent with a link that would direct residents to a Twitter page with additional information. Many people were left frustrated when the issue was noticed at the beginning of July when they were unable to view further details.

"Recently, Twitter has been making changes to how people can access and utilize the social media site," Mike O'Connell, a Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesperson, said in an email. "The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been using the Twitter platform to host additional AMBER Alert images –suspect photos, vehicle descriptions, etc. – to get important information to the public that went beyond the limited basic text messages delivered to mobile devices."

MSHP used Twitter due to its ability to reach a wider audience, and because of its ability to process a large amount of data that would otherwise overwhelm MSHP's website.

On average, an Amber Alert issued using Twitter would receive 330,000 views within 3 seconds.

"That is so much that it would overwhelm most servers, Twitter was ideal because they had the capacity to handle so many messages," O'Connell said. "Twitter was utilized because it had the necessary capacity to handle the traffic and was the only social media site that would allow access to non-Twitter users (and to Twitter users who were not logged in at the time)."

O'Connell said MSHP is working to "determine the best way to continue providing accurate and timely information to the public."

Including reaching out to Twitter and Amber Alert contacts in other states that also utilized Twitter.

This year, MSHP has issued 10 Amber Alerts in Missouri involving 12 children, all of which were located safely.

The MSHP website allows users to subscribe to email alerts. MSHP spokesman John Hotz said 1,567 email addresses have already been signed up.

MSHP would like residents to know that you can still receive alerts through these means:

• Local media

•  The MSHP Facebook page

• The MSHP Alerts website 

• Making sure your cellular phone is set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). MSHP targets Amber Alerts to limited geographic areas.