News

Facebook launches new campaign to encourage voting

September 21, 2020 07:14 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

Facebook is launching a new initiative this week to encourage Americans to vote in the upcoming presidential election, the latest effort by the social network to prove it is a responsible player on the internet.

The tech titan will kick off Monday a massive campaign encouraging people to visit its virtual voting information centers where they can look up how to register to vote, how to vote by mail or how to volunteer to work at polling stations on Election Day.

The marketing campaign will be broadcast on major US television and radio channels, as well as online news outlets. Since Saturday, Facebook has shared similar information on its app, as well as the apps for Instagram and Messenger, both of which it owns.

The Silicon Valley giant is also planning to stream an hour-long program Tuesday called "Vote-A-Thon 2020." The special will feature celebrities and public figures and will urge people to register and vote. Facebook estimated that it has already helped 2.5 million people register to vote.

"We have more work to do to reach our goal of helping more than 4 million people register this year, but we're pleased with the progress we're making to help people use their voices to vote," Facebook said in a statement.

A total of about 39 million people have already visited the virtual voting information centers on Facebook and Instagram. With this latest push, Facebook is seeking to show that it is no longer a means of massive disinformation as it was ahead of major votes in 2016, notably the US presidential election and the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom.

Both polls were plagued by disguised disinformation campaigns mainly orchestrated out of Russia. For instance, Facebook announced at the start of September that no new political ads would be shared on its platform in the week leading up to the US presidential election on November 3.

Like other internet giants, over the past few months Facebook has increased its number of reports about thwarted cyberattacks and dismantled disinformation operations.



Most Read

  1. Public Holiday announced in Lahore tomorrow Public Holiday announced in Lahore tomorrow
  2. Hina Rizvi ties the knot with Ammar Ahmed Khan Hina Rizvi ties the knot with Ammar Ahmed Khan
  3. Police claim girl seen in sub-inspector’s video was his second wife Police claim girl seen in sub-inspector’s video was his second wife
  4. Complete results: PML-N sweeps by-elections as PTI-SIC remains empty-handed in Punjab Complete results: PML-N sweeps by-elections as PTI-SIC remains empty-handed in Punjab
  5. Iranian First Lady visits Numl Iranian First Lady visits Numl
  6. Nazish Jahangir to hit any marriage proposal from Babar Azam out of the ground Nazish Jahangir to hit any marriage proposal from Babar Azam out of the ground

Opinion

  1. Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy
    Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy

    By Salim Bokhari

  2. Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph
    Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph

    By Zulfiqar Ali Mir

  3. IMEC to sabotage CPEC
    IMEC to sabotage CPEC

    By Dr Asif Channer

  4. 1947 TO FORM 47
    1947 TO FORM 47

    By Dr Asif Channer

  5. Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....
    Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....

    By Ali Ramay

  6. Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses
    Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses

    By Ali Ramay