The Healthier Side of Social Networking

[Samantha Hamilton]

Yesterday, Facebook unveiled a new initiative, aimed at encouraging Facebook users to advertise their organ donor status on their Timeline.

The move is in an attempt to increase awareness regarding the immense need for organ donors. “Many of those people — an average of 18 people per day –- will die waiting, because there simply aren’t enough organ donors to meet the need,” Facebook notes in a blog entry. “Medical experts believe that broader awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving this crisis.” 

Although stating that you are an organ donor on Facebook carries no real legal weight, the Facebook team hopes that the move will peer-pressure users in to signing up to be a donor at a local registry. Additionally, there is speculation that publicizing your choice on Facebook could ultimately provide the consent to donate needed in a crisis.

Thus far, the idea seems to be working. Donate Life California, the group where California Facebook users were sent to register as donors, has reported a 1,300 percent jump in online registration and Facebook announced that they expected to exceed 100,000 declared users in the first day alone.

Additionally, Mashable posted a poll yesterday asking users “will Facebook’s efforts drive up organ donor registrations?” With 308 responses, “yes, such is the power of Facebook” is leading with 59.74 percent

However, the move has started a discussion regarding Facebook’s move toward social engineering—questioning whether Facebook has any place pressuring users to do anything.

What do you think, is Facebook’s latest feature a great example of social healthcare or a slippery social of social engineering? Will you register your organ donation status on Facebook?