In Arizona, 'deadbeat dads' are being shamed on Twitter

If you're one of the 421 Arizona parents that owe thousands and thousands of dollars in overdue child support, get ready to be shamed.

Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced during the State of the State on Monday that the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Twitter account will start tweeting the names and photos of "deadbeat dads," as well as the amount of money they owe, The Verge reports. "For too long, you've been able to remain anonymous, able to skirt your financial and legal responsibilities with no shame," he said. Ducey — who said he's been called "the hashtag governor" — added that each tweet will include "hashtag #deadbeat."

In 1999, a law went into effect that requires the DES post the names and photos of people who owe child support to its website. "If you don't want your embarrassing, unlawful, and irresponsible behavior going viral: Man up, and pay up," Ducey said. The first #deadbeat tweet (calling out a man who owes $170,993) hasn't gone viral yet, but it has been retweeted 55 times and liked by 40 people.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up