Facebook, the Online Democracy.

Facebook – it connects us to the world around us, or that’s what it claims to do. But more so it helps us market the best versions of ourselves, flaunt our best pictures (while untagging those that are not so flattering), allows us to ‘face-stalk’ our ex-partners, research the intimate private lives of our workmates and go through pictures of the ‘cool’ kids from high school who are now fat and jobless. The pleasures of facebook are endless.

[I was about to write a little section on how facebook is a social network, where users chat, and send each other messages, upload photos etc, but then I realized that anyone who doesn’t know what facebook is probably lives on another planet, and if so, its not likely that they would be reading my blog in the first place! Considering the state of the world, I’d probably be better off explaining what a democracy is!]

This week, Facebook has creatively taken a political stance. That’s right, the online community of Facebook is now endeavouring to become a democracy. Details are here.

Given that there are already 175 million active users (who, based on the number of online protests on facebook, are no-doubt quite opinionated) this could be quite a challenge.

Facebook’s terms and conditions (which seem comparable to a country’s constitution or the Bill of Rights) will be changed to reflect this democratic policy. The new policy basically states that if more than 7,000 users comment on any proposed change, it would go to a vote. The decision of users would be binding to Facebook if more than 30 percent of active users vote. This is certainly more democratic than countries like North Korea, Iran, Cuba or Fiji, if the people from these countries want to experience a democracy, they should join facebook.

I have a couple of questions for founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Firstly, is facebook contemplating a community anthem for the near future. Most countries have a national anthem, I see no reason why users of an online community can’t show their loyalty towards facebook by singing.

Secondly, now being democratic and all, would you consider implementing a citizenship test for all new users proposing to enter the facebook community. The US and Australia have them for migrants seeking citizenship. A facebook migration test would ensure that new users understand facebook cultures and goals and how to use facebook effectively! Another idea, facebook could release a free publication allowing prospective new users to study for the citizenship test.

These are just some of my random thoughts.