Facebook Launches New Petition Feature Called Community Actions

Tweet
Share
WhatsApp
facebook threat to democracy
Image: Fossbytes

Facebook will roll out its Community Actions feature tomorrow, which will allow users to make political petitions and demand the changes they want from local officials.

According to TechCrunch, the feature will be available first in the United States. Using it, the users can create petitions, tag public officials and get a mob behind a cause. The feature will allow the petition holders to discuss topics and users will also be able to organize fundraisers and events related to the topics.

The aim behind this feature is to unite people who are supporting a cause and getting them to click the ‘Support’ button. In layman’s language, you can consider it as a Change.org fitted inside your Facebook News Feed.

Community Actions Facebook
Image: Facebook/TechCrunch

Facebook is treading on a narrow trail, and there are possibilities that the feature could be misused. For example, some users can start a petition to ban minority groups that are offensive to them but legitimate in general.

However, Facebook’s focus is on helping users build a community and demand changes that are good for the community from public officials.

It depends solely on Facebook how it intends the feature to be used. Monitoring its use would be a major challenge for the social media company. Given the notoriety of Facebook for failing to keep a check on how people are using its features, it is not very difficult to imagine how this feature could be used to fuel an agenda.

What do you think about this new feature? Tell us int he comments.

Also Read: Facebook Could Be Slapped With A ‘Record-Setting’ Fine By FTC
Anmol Sachdeva

Anmol Sachdeva

Anmol is a tech journalist who handles reportage of cybersecurity and Apple and OnePlus devices at Fossbytes. He's an ambivert who is striving hard to appease existential crisis by eating, writing, and scrolling through memes.
More From Fossbytes

Latest On Fossbytes

Find your dream job