NEW YORK: 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 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.–Agencies
