Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council keeps YouTube as primary archive hub; motion to dual-stream to Facebook fails
Summary
After debate over audience reach, moderation and platform retention, the council voted against resuming dual streaming (Facebook Live plus YouTube). Council continues to use YouTube as the primary video repository with links posted to Facebook and other platforms.
Goldsboro City Council debated whether to restore live streaming of meetings directly to Facebook in addition to the current YouTube storage hub during its Aug. 18 meeting.
Councilwoman Matthews and others argued that Facebook holds the city's largest captive audience and that removing Facebook Live reduces accessibility for residents who rely on that platform. Supporters of a single-hub approach cited Facebook's new retention limits and said using YouTube for storage prevents loss of archival video.
A motion to resume dual streaming (Facebook Live and YouTube) was made and seconded but failed on a 2-5 vote. Officials clarified that the current configuration posts a link to the YouTube live stream on the city's Facebook page and that viewers can still watch and comment if they access the link and are logged in. Staff said they would ensure links and TV-channel listings are clear on the city web pages.
Why it matters: The decision affects how residents access live and archived council meetings and raised questions about moderation of hostile comments, platform algorithms and inclusiveness for older residents. Council members asked staff to ensure clear posting of links across platforms and to confirm that Channel 10 broadcast is available and functioning.
What's next: Staff will clarify where archived meetings are posted (YouTube hub, Facebook links and Channel 10 information on the website) and return with any needed technical adjustments to improve accessibility and discoverability.
