Friday, April 22, 2011

Can I Even Add President Obama as a Facebook Friend???

(This is a response to an article in the New York Times titled "Obama and Facebook in Warm Embrace." The author was Miguel Helft. You can find the article here.)

Social media has taken over the journalism world. Many people see it as the next step to careers in journalism. Quickly, companies and businesses are hiring younger generations to help them get ahead in the cyber race. Twitter, Facebook and many more networks help businesses get connected with a younger, computer savvy audience. Not only are companies and businesses doing this, but the President of the United States as well. It seems that Obama and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg are pals.

via Google
On Wednesday, April 20th 2011, President Obama attended a townhall meeting at Facebook Headquarters to discuss some hot topics. He took questions from the audience and also logged on Facebook to chat with 'friends' from all over the country. During these discussions, Mr. Obama bashed Republican Congressman Paul Ryan for his budget proposal of spending and tax cuts. Mr. Obama also discussed the economy, health care, education and immigration reform.

Throughout the entire event, Mr. Obama and Mark Zuckerberg appeared to be buddies. At one point Zuckerberg said to Mr. Obama, "“I think the Race to the Top stuff that you guys have done is one of the most under-appreciated and most important things that your administration has done."

The hot topics of the night were the importance of math and science education and the need to make it possible for highly skilled immigrants to stay in the United States. Mr. Obama asked, "If we’ve got smart people who want to come here and start businesses and are Ph.D.’s in math and science and computer science, why don’t we want them to stay?” He stressed the importance of those immigrants starting their businesses in the United States rather than in their home countries.

The seemingly close relationship between Washington and Facebook is bringing fear to some privacy advocates. They think it will allow the social networking company to escape government scrutiny. But Facebook has become irresistable to politicans. They can reach out to younger audiences that do not watch political debates but will get on Facebook.

My friend attended the Facebook 'townhall meeting' and said it was strange. It seemed almost wrong that the President of the United States was addressing the public via cyperspace. It becomes impersonal and almost as if talking to a pal on Facebook chat. The idea of social networks and the Government working closely together also scares me. I do not understand the reason why the ties need to be so close. I understand the importance of campaigning through social media networks. That is how Mr. Obama gained such a wide, young following. The danger is when it becomes too much of a friendship that the social media networks do not undergo the same kind of scrutiny that other companies too. I do not want them to be overlooked or have special treatment.

The article itself was well-done and hit all the highlights of the meeting. It included quotes from both Mr. Obama and Zuckerberg. Those quotes showed both sides of the parties being represented and showed how truly 'close' those two men are. They were chummy and praising each other for their accomplishments. Even after reading this article, I am not sure I will ever be alright with my President chatting with me on Facebook.

1 comment:

  1. You're right on that social media is "irresistible" to politicians!

    ReplyDelete