According to recently compiled data on facebook use by country, facebook is becoming increasingly popular in Macedonia and Bulgaria, with a growth rate of 95% and 105% respectively over a twelve week period. And while there is no data on the numbers of facebook users from Kosovo, in (presumably) a short while, the member count will increase by at least one, when PM Hashim Thaci joins facebook. (Several leading opposition party candidates already have accounts.) According to Thaci’s office, the purpose of joining facebook will be to promote greater transparency and communication with his constituents. As the article noted, it is also a potentially effective way to reach out to younger voters.
Meanwhile, while we’re on the topic of government officials and facebook; according to this article from Global Voices Online, a few weeks ago facebook removed Macedonia’s Ministry of the Interior’s personal page. According to the article:
Alleged reasons for canceling the profile included the fact that personal profiles are intended for personal and noncommercial use by individual persons, posting of disturbing photographs on the profile – including post-mortem remains of crime victims, as well as the opportunity for violations of privacy of other Facebook users.
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Global Voices Online » Kosovo, Ukraine, Russia: Social Media and Politics // April 23, 2009 at 12:40 pm |
[...] Balkanistan writes that Kosovo’s PM Hashim Thaci is planning to join Facebook and that “several leading [...]