Only hours into the job and new DUP Health Minister Jim Wells is already a big hit on social media.

Hundreds of Twitter users reported that they had been blocked by Wells as they attempted to either follow or interact with his Twitter account. The hashtag #blockedbywells was soon trending across Northern Ireland.

Many of the ‘blocks’ were prompted by users asking awkward questions of the Minister’s controversial views on abortion, creationism and the LGBT community and some were abusive in nature. However a surprising number of Twitter users found that they had been blocked by Wells despite never having interacted with him previously.

Perhaps Jim Wells should follow the example set by his (current?) party leader Peter Robinson who recognised the growing importance of social media by using Twitter to announce his Ministerial reshuffle.

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