When it comes to voter apathy, online democracy isn't much different than the offline variety, Facebook has discovered.
Facebook gave its users a week to vote on new governance documents, following uproar when the site changed its terms of service without asking its users first.
Nearly three-quarters of voters said they liked the new Facebook Principles' and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities' better than the current terms, but just 600,000 people voted.
While that may sound like a decent turnout, the site has 200 million users world wide, so just 0.3 per cent bothered to cast their vote, despite Facebook offering it in a variety of languages and advertising it across the site.
"We'd hoped to have a bigger turnout for this inaugural vote, but it is important to keep in mind that this vote was a first for users just like it was a first for Facebook," said Ted Ullyot, Facebook's general counsel, in a blog posting.
"We are hopeful that there will be greater participation in future votes," he added.
Ullyot said that Facebook would lower the 30 per cent threshold on voting, which required that proportion of the site's users to vote against something in order to force a change. Currently, it would require 60 million people to actually vote to have the result be binding.
The new terms will come into play soon, Ullyot wrote, once the vote's results have been externally audited.
Earlier this month, researchers called the vote "democracy theatre," saying "it seems the goal is not to actually turn governance over to users, but to use the appearance of democracy and user involvement to ward off future criticism."
Read on to find out why we haven't managed to create the People's Republic of Facebook quite yet.
-
The IT industry’s shift to circular, low-carbon solutionsMaximize your hardware investment and reach your sustainability goals with HP’s Renew Solutions
-
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition reviewReviews This thin and light ultraportable will draw you in with its vibrant screen – but it isn't as powerful as some of its competitors
-
Meta to pay $725 million in Cambridge Analytica lawsuit settlementNews The settlement closes the long-running lawsuit into how Facebook's owner, Meta, handled the Cambridge Analytica scandal
-
Meta's earnings are 'cause for concern' and 2023 looks even bleakerAnalysis Calls for investor faith in metaverse tech only emphasise the worries that its investment strategy won't pay off
-
Microsoft and Meta announce integration deal between Teams and WorkplaceNews Features from both business collaboration platforms will be available to users without having to switch apps
-
Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial recognition systemNews The move will see more than a billion facial templates removed from Facebook's records amid a push for more private applications of the technology
-
'Changing name to Meat': Industry reacts to Facebook's Meta rebrandNews The rebrand attempts to provide a clearer distinction between Facebook and its umbrella company
-
Facebook's Oversight Board demands more transparencyNews Board bashed the social media giant for its preferential treatment of certain high-profile accounts
-
Facebook claims AI managed to reduce hate speech by 50%News The social media platform has hit back at claims the tech it uses to fight hate speech is inadequate
-
Facebook to hire 10,000 workers across the EUNews The high-skilled jobs drive is a “vote of confidence” in the European tech industry
