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The comments column of the MeteoSwiss blog is increasingly being used to spread conspiracy theories, hatred and intolerance. (archive picture)
Keystone
MeteoSwiss is closing the comments section on its blog articles as of November 30. According to the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, the reasons for this are the increasingly negative tone and cost-saving measures.
MeteoSwiss regularly publishes articles on weather and climate on its blog. Over the past two years, 30,000 comments have been left under the articles, MeteoSwiss reported on its blog on Monday. Of these, the state weather and climate service has had to reject around 8,000 comments.
Over the last five years in particular, the tone of users has become more aggressive and negative, MeteoSwiss continued. The comment function has increasingly been used to spread conspiracy theories, intolerance and hatred. In addition, it often becomes personal, "up to and including open insults towards employees of MeteoSwiss or the federal government in general".
Before 2020, blog discussions were used in a more constructive way. For example, to discuss specific topics.
MeteoSwiss also cited cost-cutting reasons for removing the comments function on the MeteoSwiss blog, which requires a lot of support. Like all federal offices, MeteoSwiss is also affected by cross-sectional cuts and must implement the federal government's cost-cutting measures.
Since 2014, it has been possible to leave comments under MeteoSwiss blog articles in German, French and Italian. MeteoSwiss will remove this function for all three languages from November 30. MeteoSwiss wants to remain accessible to its readers via the channels on X, Instagram and Linkedin.
18.11.2024, 10:49
