US Congress’s youngest member schools colleagues about Twitter

Washington (AFP) – US Congress’ youngest member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared her Twitter savvy with Democratic colleagues Thursday, giving fellow representatives a taste of her influence on the social media platform — and how to take selfies. 

The 29-year-old progressive New Yorker appeared with several Democratic members of the House of Representatives in a photo posted by California’s Ted Lieu.

“Representatives at a training session on Twitter for Democratic Members of Congress. The pic below is called a selfie,” he joked. 

Twitter employees also attended the training, according to Lieu. 

“Class was in session this morning! I was thrilled to offer some insights on Twitter and social media to my colleagues this morning,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted from her “@AOC” account, which has nearly 2.5 million followers. 

Ocasio-Cortez, who represents an area of New York City which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens, often tweets several times a day. 

Her social media know-how could benefit Democratic colleagues as they try to take on the policies of another prolific tweeter — President Donald Trump. 

“AOC” regularly posts on Instagram, too, sharing “stories” about her new life on Capitol Hill with her 1.8 million followers. 

Her policy positions, frequently considered to the left even of other Democrats, have also made her the target of social media criticism during her first few weeks in Congress. 

A video showing Ocasio-Cortez and others dancing on a roof as a student surfaced on Twitter in early January with a caption from an anonymous poster: “Here is America’s favorite commie know-it-all acting like the clueless nitwit she is.”

Instead of joining in the mockery, however, many internet users cheered her “impressive” choreography and “dope” friends. 

Ocasio-Cortez published her own response on Twitter, posting a video of her dancing outside her office with her new congressional nameplate in full view.

“I hear the GOP thinks women dancing are scandalous. Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too!”

It’s unclear whether Thursday’s congressional Twitter instruction also included a lesson on how to dance, but Ocasio-Cortez appeared the use the opportunity to learn. 

“Now Majority (Whip James Clyburn) is teaching me what all the bells mean in the Capitol,” she tweeted with a cry-laughing emoji.