You might be familiar with the tiny heart on driver's licenses marking the license's owner as an organ donor.
Now, you might find the tiny heart on Facebook, too.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the social networking giant added the ability to both register as an organ donor and demonstrate it in your profile on ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday morning.
The new initiative, which encourages Facebook's 900 million users to let others know they are organ donors, was motivated by Zuckerberg's relationship with Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs, and Zuckerberg's girlfriend, according to The Washington Post.
The two each encouraged Zuckerberg to use Facebook as a means for spreading social awareness.
Facebook's FAQ section about the project also explained its motivations:
“More than 114,000 people in the United States, and millions more around the globe, are waiting for the heart, kidney or liver transplant that will save their lives. Many of those people – an average of 18 people per day – will die waiting, because there simply aren’t enough organ donors to meet the need. Medical experts believe that broader awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving this crisis.”
To update your timeline with your organ donor status, add a new “Life Event.” From there, scroll down to the “Health & Wellness” section and choose “Organ Donor.”
Users can also register to become an organ donor through Donate Life America, a non-profit partnered with Facebook on the project, according to The Washington Post.
SPEAK OUT: Would you post your organ donor status on your Facebook timeline or profile? Do you think this information is too private and should be kept on your driver's license? Is Facebook the right platform for social activism? Tell us in the comments!
Doug Tallman
5:23 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
We reveal so much of our lives online. Doesn't this seem a little creepy?
Greg Cohen
10:18 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
I'm with Doug. God forbid I'm in a situation where someone could use my organs, I don't need a hospital creeping on my Facebook to find out if it's OK. Stick to driver's licenses and organ donor cards.
Richard Rice
3:59 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
I agree w/Doug and Greg. My organ donor status is on my driver's liscence,
my family knows my wishes and those are the only 3 that need to know
my business in that manner!!!
Christine
10:26 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Absolutely not. It is sufficient to let the folks who need to know have that info. The world at large doesn't need to know.
Ed Adams
10:09 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
Check out the // LifeLegacy Foundation // Its program sure make sense to me.