Monday, around 9:21 p.m., the White House's official Twitter account posted, "BREAKING: @POTUS just launched his Facebook page! Take a walk with him in his backyard at https://Facebook.com/POTUS ." U.S. president Barrack Obama finally has a Facebook page.
Obama already has several social media accounts that operate under his name. However, these pages are largely focused on the president's campaigns, Reuters reported.
Within the first hour that it went online, his page already got more than 45,000 "likes".
The president opened his first post with, "Hello, Facebook! I finally got my very own page"
A report by NPR detailed that the post emphasized Obama's intent to communicate via Facebook in a casual tone. "I hope you'll think of this as a place where we can have real conversations about the most important issues facing our country - a place where you can hear directly from me, and share your own thoughts and stories. (You can expect some just-for-fun stuff, too.)"
The president continued to invite the readers to a stroll around the White House's south lawn. He then went to addressing climate and environmental issues.
The post included a 2-minute video wherein Mr. Obama walks around his "backyard", describing the wildlife he regularly encounters in the area.
Just as the text of his first post, the video takes a turn into environmental protection and conservation awareness. In the video, the president urged viewers to be more proactive when it comes to issues pertaining to the environment.
Obama's Facebook photos include milestones in his political career such as taking oaths into various positions. One of the first photos uploaded also included a candid shot with first lady Michelle Obama on their wedding day, as noted by the New York Times.
It is very likely that the president's Office of Digital Strategy would take the frontline in maintaining the page. Obama's 20-member team already manages all of the White House's online accounts including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, as well as the president's Twitter account.
The president's introductory post was met by welcoming comments from A-listers. Facebook chairman Mark Zuckerberg was the first to post a comment saying, "Welcome, President Obama! I'm excited that you've joined our community, and I look forward to seeing how you engage with people here on Facebook."
Broadcast Journalist Katie Couric posted a simple but cheerful, "Welcome to Facebook, President Obama!!" Entertainer and Viner Josh Darnit commented, " Accessibility has reached new heights. What a great time to be alive. Very cool Mr. President."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
