The story of the TSA's oddly entertaining Instagram account
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s Instagram account is a real hoot, featuring weird, ridiculous, and sometimes helpful images of items that are prohibited and permitted to bring on flights. Apparently Jeremy Bentham's mummified head, above, "is allowed in carry-on as long as it's properly packaged, labeleled, and declared..." Also, who knew that Batarangs and Krull Glaives were so popular. From National Geographic:
It almost looks like were in the entertainment business at times, says Bob Burns, lead social media specialist with the TSA Office of Public Affairs and the man behind the accounts cheeky posts. After leaving his rock band in 2002, Burns originally joined TSA as a screener and later started the Instagram account in 2013his idea to educate the public in a more engaging way.
Everyones had that teacher where youre afraid to ask questions because youll get criticized or yelled at. The human tone of our Instagram account makes us more approachable, Burns says. The majority of our photos are prohibited items and strange things we try to use that as a teaching moment: A chainsaw is not allowed in your carry-on bag.
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