NPR to leave Twitter over account labels

National Public Radio will cease posting material on its Twitter account after the platform slapped it with a label it says creates the false impression that NPR does not enjoy editorial independence from the United States government.

The social media platform earlier this month attached a "US state-affiliated media" label to the @NPR handle, prompting the outlet to protest the designation.

NPR insisted that Twitter sought to undermine its credibility with the label and it would therefore no longer use the platform.

"We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence... We are turning away from Twitter but not from our audiences and communities," the network told The Hill.

Twitter has since changed the label to read "government-funded," though that concession appears not to have swayed the minds of network leadership. NPR does receive funding through government channels.

NPR's decision to leave one of the world's largest social media platforms comes as the outlet works to cope with a budget deficit and strengthen its financial standing. The network announced layoffs earlier this month.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.