One of our favorite Twitter accounts likes to say that Nextdoor is Twitter for old people. Now Nextdoor is apparently trying to be Twitter for public safety.
Not familiar with @bestofnextdoor? The account chronicles some of the zaniest interactions in America’s nabes:
- “Seahawks Cannon” is practically canon. (A Nextdoor dispute over loud booms during pro football games devolved into fisticuffs at a local library.)
- The Missing Roomba is another classic. (I LEFT THE FRONT DOOR OPEN AND MY BELOVED ROOMBA ESCAPED, someone scrawled on a flier.)
- Nextdoor is also famous for brutal honesty: “My husband found a dead Parakeet on our Driveway this morning. If your Parakeet is missing then stop looking for it for it is not coming home.”
The chatter adds up to a pretty weird version of a neighborhood watch. But Nextdoor’s latest move is all about getting public agencies in on the crazy.
A new app gives them more insights IRL
CityLab reports that Nextdoor for Public Agencies aims to create stronger connections for the police, fire departments, and other local do-gooders.
Nextdoor says agencies have been clamoring for these features for years. They’ll allow the police to send alerts about emergencies, or receive direct messages from users.
But there could be a few drawbacks
Some critics say Nextdoor already encourages amateur Keystone Kops to elevate mere nuisances to red alerts, and they’re worried the new app could only make things worse.
