• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechGlobal 500

Facebook Just Made It Easier to Get in Touch With Your Local Elected Officials

By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 28, 2017, 1:07 AM ET

Last month, Facebook (FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg published a 6,000-word manifesto in which he posited Facebook’s new role in addressing some of humanity’s biggest problems. “Our next focus will be developing the social infrastructure for community—for supporting us, for keeping us safe, for informing us, for civic engagement, and for inclusion of all,” Zuckerberg wrote in February.

On Monday, Facebook users in the U.S. were given an inkling of what that might mean.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook has launched a U.S. service called Town Hall: a nonpartisan civic engagement tool that informs users who their local elected officials are and offers advice on how to get in touch. Following the success of Facebook’s first major voter registration drive, the tool also nudges users to vote.

For more on Facebook and politics watch Fortune’s video:

Facebook has a spotty record with civic engagement: from the perennial charge that social media activism has become a blunt proxy for IRL activism, to the late acknowledgement that its News Feed had helped spread fake news during the U.S. election cycle. Although Town Hall does not address fake news, it might go some way to addressing the former concern. The Journal reports that based on a user’s location, Town Hall will present often tricky-to-find information on at least some of their local political representatives and allows users to follow their Facebook activity. The tool also reportedly encourages users to pick up the phone and call politicians, or write them a letter.

About the Author
By Joseph Hincks
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO, inherits a rebounding China business—and some messy headaches
AsiaApple
John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO, inherits a rebounding China business—and some messy headaches
By Nicholas GordonApril 26, 2026
4 hours ago
Sergey Brin confronted Gavin Newsom at a treehouse party — then launched a political war
PoliticsElections
Sergey Brin confronted Gavin Newsom at a treehouse party — then launched a political war
By Eliyahu Kamisher, Biz Carson and BloombergApril 26, 2026
5 hours ago
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: ‘It won’t matter’
Future of WorkElon Musk
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: ‘It won’t matter’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 26, 2026
8 hours ago
Why the key to American drone dominance lies with blockchain
CybersecurityDrones
Why the key to American drone dominance lies with blockchain
By Mike Horton and Adam WinnickApril 26, 2026
12 hours ago
Woman tired while looking at computer
CommentaryProductivity
AI is frying our brains — here’s what leaders need to do about It
By David Rock and Chris WellerApril 26, 2026
13 hours ago
Satya Nadella
Big TechMicrosoft
More than 90,000 tech workers have been laid off this year. But here’s why companies like Microsoft are offering voluntary buyouts instead
By Jacqueline MunisApril 26, 2026
13 hours ago

Most Popular

'You feel radicalized': A Meta AI exec watched agents beat her top workers. Now she's built a nonprofit to help Gen Z find jobs before they disappear
Future of Work
'You feel radicalized': A Meta AI exec watched agents beat her top workers. Now she's built a nonprofit to help Gen Z find jobs before they disappear
By Jake AngeloApril 26, 2026
17 hours ago
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
Politics
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
By Sasha RogelbergApril 24, 2026
2 days ago
Tim Cook built Apple into a $4 trillion company. Then his greatest strength became his biggest liability
Commentary
Tim Cook built Apple into a $4 trillion company. Then his greatest strength became his biggest liability
By Andrea PetroneApril 25, 2026
1 day ago
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
Success
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
By Emma BurleighApril 23, 2026
3 days ago
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
Success
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
By Preston ForeApril 25, 2026
2 days ago
More than 90,000 tech workers have been laid off this year. But here’s why companies like Microsoft are offering voluntary buyouts instead
Big Tech
More than 90,000 tech workers have been laid off this year. But here’s why companies like Microsoft are offering voluntary buyouts instead
By Jacqueline MunisApril 26, 2026
13 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.